Last year I have written a blog entry about fandoms having impact on TV shows http://garfield.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:TeeJay87/How_Do_Fandoms_Affect_TV_Shows , where couple of doubtfully good phenomena were presented. During work on that blog entry, I was aware that certain Internet users go that far to label our favorite orange tabby as "genderless", though it seemed to remain on the level of society's margin.
Having read this http://www.gocomics.com/news/in-the-news/3764/the-great-garfield-gender-debate-resolved-garfield-is-male , it turned out the aforesaid issue grew such severe, that Jim Davis had to make intervention and admit in public, that Garfield is male. As if male name, typical male conduct (including bold challenges shown in comics strips and certain cartoons) and male voices (Lorenzo Music and Bill Murray) were not obvious enough hints. Agreed that Garfield's modus operandi is indeed universal with such personality traits - many people (including me) hate Mondays, enjoy good quality cuisine, disapprove fools (kicking Odie off the table makes fine allegory); it's also not uncommon to find people arguing with housemates and changing partners live gloves (personally I do not appreciate such practices, but this is one of many "charms" of living in the Western society). Still, having mentioned above traits should make enough evidence for people with average I/Q level, that Garfield is male.
Good that Jim Davis made such statement about Garfield's gender in public - despite it will not prevent people thinking with wrong parts of their bodies from spreading their propaganda, the less-firm-in-their beliefs fans will be able to distinguish truth from scam. Proof from the gocomics: “Garfield is male. He has a girlfriend, Arlene," the 71-year-old Davis said in a statement to The [Washington] Post.
Another nice thing is that Arlene has been officially considered as Garfield's girlfriend by their creator, despite their relationship in comics and The Garfield Show is not depicted as healthy, due to Garfield's narcissism and Arlene's tomboyish behavior. Still, I will not deny they indeed match to each other - only strong female can stand with a man focused on himself. Of course this does not change my sentiments towards other characters from the Garfield universe.
I would like to thank Abdul for providing link to the GoComics blog entry in his new "excellent" picture http://bobclampettfan164.deviantart.com/art/Arlene-confronts-her-enemies-683589706 - despite forgetting about Miss Kitty http://garfield.wikia.com/wiki/File:TCS075a.png, he made considerable progress in consequent bashing innocent cartoon characters just because they were drawn by PAWS Inc. animators showing affection to Garfield. Without doubt, such "proofs of genius" will surely "convince" Jim Davis to renounce the existence of Garfield and Friends secondary characters.