The DreamWorks character of Puss in Boots has received generally positive reviews, with critics praising his depiction and considering him a source of comic relief.

[2] Inspired by Banderas's Zorro, the filmmakers decided to make Puss's origins Spanish (instead of the fairy tale's Italian and French).

[9] Puss repeatedly mentions "some great adventure" (without details) in the Shrek films, and Miller wanted to know more about his origins (such as where his boots came from).

[26] Robert Patrick, Harrison Ford, Sylvester Stallone, David Krumholtz, Dennis Quaid, and Todd Stashwick were considered for the role of Puss before Antonio Banderas was cast.

[22] Banderas said that the first scene he had recorded was coughing up a hairball, adding that he had spent "45 minutes doing strange sounds";[29][32] although it left him voiceless,[29][32] he saw the moment as "fun".

[20] He is proud that his character is Latino since it is "good for diversity and cultural interaction", saying children would see that "heroes actually have a strong accent" in Puss in Boots.

Playing Puss meant "a lot" for his career;[29] although he had not been able to speak English when he had come to America, the filmmakers wanted his voice for the films.

[44] Bauza said that he had "watched a lot of Antonio's films", had imagined how he would have performed on certain occasions, and had tried to be as "unpredictable";[43] he stated that his voice is similar to Banderas's.

Christian Lanz won the 2016 Winner Voice Arts Award for Outstanding TV Animation, Best Voiceover for "Epic Cat Battles with Puss in Boots.

[8] He also said Puss is an "amplified version of Antonio coming out of this tiny little furry package" and that this makes him an "instantly funny", "intriguing", and "complex character".

[50] He said that "on the surface, Puss is the coolest guy in the world", "great at everything", "saves and protects people", and "seems like he can defeat anyone", despite "this wonderful vulnerability" due to him being "tiny".

[26] Banderas described Puss as "a little bit mysterious", with "a sweetness";[20] he added that the character "knows how to make people jealous" and "can be manipulative with just his eyes".

After initial difficulty getting used to their new bodies, Puss and Donkey join forces in the battle against Prince Charming to save Shrek, and they convince Arthur that he is meant to be king.

In the alternate universe created by the film's antagonist, Rumpelstiltskin, and entered by Shrek, Puss has gained weight and is Fiona's pet after his retirement.

[73][74][75] He also appears in the television special Scared Shrekless (2010), participating in a storytelling contest to frighten Shrek on Halloween; Puss tells a story with Donkey, but they cannot agree on a version.

[115] He has appeared in different stage shows, including one at the Duluth Depot,[116][117] and another at the Universal Studios Singapore theme park.

[122][123][124] Critical reception of Puss has been generally positive, with reviewers praising his portrayal in the films and describing him as "cute",[125][126][127] "suave",[18][43][128][129] "lovable",[130][131] "charismatic",[43][132] "feisty",[133][134] "engaging",[135] "legendary",[136] "an instant charmer",[17] "a natural-born star",[137] "a notorious adventurer",[2] the "suavest of swashbuckling cats",[138] and "the world's greatest feline swordfighter".

[43] Fantasy Magazine's Andrew Penn Romine called Puss "equal parts rogue and hero",[9] but Stephen Holden of The New York Times described the character as "this vain, spoiled, swashbuckler".

[144] Reviewers have also said that Puss resembles Captain Jack Sparrow from the film series Pirates of the Caribbean,[150][151] because of him being a "swashbuckling",[150] "charismatic scene-stealer".

[141] Comic Book Resources writer Rob Levin described him as "a legend in his own right", with an "upright strut and leather boots".

[1] Christy Lemire of Boston.com said that Puss "looks so soft and fluffy and tactile in his little, leather boots, his ... feathered hat and his shiny sword";[159] she described him as "a tabby cat decked out in tiny Zorro duds".

[160] Todd McCarthy called Puss "a short orange critter with green eyes, feathered hat and large boots",[63] and A. O. Scott of The New York Times praised his "convincingly animated fur".

[162] The character has been regarded as "tiny",[49][163] with a Spin South West writer calling him "small in stature, but huge in personality".

[149] Ben Sherlock of Screen Rant regarded Puss as "popular" and said that "his technique of looking adorable with gigantic eyes to get his opponents to drop their guard before launching an attack on them" never fails.

[164] Jesse Hassenger described Puss as a "swashbuckling cat with the trappings of an actual feline, like purring and looking adorable to disarm enemies".

[166] IGN writer Jeff Otto wrote that Puss "can give the most adorable wide-eyed look" to "lure" his enemies into "his vicious swashbuckling attacks".

[27] Christina Radish characterized Puss as an "adorable little creature" who had become "a fan favorite in the Shrek films",[13] and Quickflix's Simon Miraudo called him one of the franchise's "signature characters".

Rob Levin said that Puss has "a decidedly Latin flavor" in the Shrek films because of Banderas, who "plays the part with gusto, giving the tiny hero all the bravado and charm of his real-life persona".

[132] IAmRogue's Dana Gardner wrote that Banderas "brought plenty of comedy to the role of Puss by playing the character so melodramatically".

[173] Matt Fowler found Banderas "perfectly suitable as Puss",[62] and Todd McCarthy called his performance "spirited and knowing".