One of my (many) favorite things about book lovers is that they’re more often than not animal lovers as well. So, what better way to celebrate book lovers than with a list of best books for cat lovers?
There’s a wealth of great books and short stories and whatnot across all genres about cats. My person favorite from this list is The Price by Neil Gaiman, which is a short story about a black cat that shows up one day. Here’s an animated version of it, too.
Table of Contents
Short Stories about Cats
Literary Cats
Sci-fi, Fantasy & Cats
Heartwarming Stories about Cats
Illustrated Stories about Cats
Mystery-Solving Cats
Books about Literary Cat-Lovers
Short Stories about Cats
I’ve listed the stories based on the books they appear in, though many of these stories appear in other anthologies such as Cat Stories or the Sophisticated Cat.
The Price from Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman
What It's About: The Price is a story with an eerie feel, but a surprising and almost touching ending. As mentioned above, it's one of my favorite short stories, and it's about a black cat that shows up at a family's house one day.Publication Date: November 1, 1998
What It's About: The Price is a story with an eerie feel, but a surprising and almost touching ending. As mentioned above, it's one of my favorite short stories, and it's about a black cat that shows up at a family's house one day.Publication Date: November 1, 1998
Puss-in-Boots from The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
What It's About: The Bloody Chamber is a fantastic collection of fairytale retellings by Angela Carter. Puss-in-Boots is a bawdy retelling of the Italian-French fairy tale story of the loyal, trickster cat, Puss-in-Boots.Publication Date: May 26, 2015
What It's About: The Bloody Chamber is a fantastic collection of fairytale retellings by Angela Carter. Puss-in-Boots is a bawdy retelling of the Italian-French fairy tale story of the loyal, trickster cat, Puss-in-Boots.Publication Date: May 26, 2015
Goodbye to All Cats by P.G. Wodehouse
What It's About: It's humorous, silly story about a guy who tries (and fails) to impress a girl and her animal-loving, cat-owning family.Publication Date: March 28, 2000
What It's About: It's humorous, silly story about a guy who tries (and fails) to impress a girl and her animal-loving, cat-owning family.Publication Date: March 28, 2000
The Story of Webster and Cats will be Cats from Mulliner Nights by P.G. Wodehouse
What It's About: Like the one above, it's an unserious story about nephew who is asked to take care of his uncle's cat, Webster.Publication Date: January 17, 1933
What It's About: Like the one above, it's an unserious story about nephew who is asked to take care of his uncle's cat, Webster.Publication Date: January 17, 1933
The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe
What It's About: The Black Cat is more of a story involving a cat than it is a story for cat lovers, per se. But it's well-known enough that it would seem odd to exclude it from this list. It's a dark tale, in the classic Poe style, about a guy wracked with guilt and a cat named Pluto.Publication Date: March 31, 2016
What It's About: The Black Cat is more of a story involving a cat than it is a story for cat lovers, per se. But it's well-known enough that it would seem odd to exclude it from this list. It's a dark tale, in the classic Poe style, about a guy wracked with guilt and a cat named Pluto.Publication Date: March 31, 2016
The Cat that Walked by Himself by Rudyard Kipling
What It's About: It is a story of the beginning of domesticated life: Man meets Woman and they move into a cave and set up the first household. Dog, Horse, and Cow come out of the Wild Woods and become tame. But Cat refuses.Publication Date: Not Available
What It's About: It is a story of the beginning of domesticated life: Man meets Woman and they move into a cave and set up the first household. Dog, Horse, and Cow come out of the Wild Woods and become tame. But Cat refuses.Publication Date: Not Available
The Cat from The Summer Book by Tove Jansson
What It's About: It's about a girl who gets a cute cuddly cat that grows up to be not quite so cuddly. A short, cute story.Publication Date: May 20, 2008
What It's About: It's about a girl who gets a cute cuddly cat that grows up to be not quite so cuddly. A short, cute story.Publication Date: May 20, 2008
Literary Cats
Kafka on the Shore
What It's About: Kafka on the Shore tells two inter-related stories, one of which involves a man named Nakata who is a finder of lost cats.Publication Date: January 3, 2006
What It's About: Kafka on the Shore tells two inter-related stories, one of which involves a man named Nakata who is a finder of lost cats.Publication Date: January 3, 2006
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
What It's About: This book is about a couple and their marriage, with their cat symbolizing the status of the relationship between the two.Publication Date: April 12, 1994
What It's About: This book is about a couple and their marriage, with their cat symbolizing the status of the relationship between the two.Publication Date: April 12, 1994
Breakfast at Tiffany's
What It's About: Holly Golightly's cat is probably the most famous unnamed cat in literature. But for whatever Holly's flaws, you have to admit she does seem to love her cat.Publication Date: February 5, 2013
What It's About: Holly Golightly's cat is probably the most famous unnamed cat in literature. But for whatever Holly's flaws, you have to admit she does seem to love her cat.Publication Date: February 5, 2013
The Familiar, Volume 1
What It's About: In the simplest terms, this is a book about a girl who finds a cat, and this entire series of books (27 volumes planned) are about that cat. Of course, Mark Danielewski likes writing very complicated post-modernist epics, so obviously there's a lot more to the story than that.Publication Date: January 1, 2015
What It's About: In the simplest terms, this is a book about a girl who finds a cat, and this entire series of books (27 volumes planned) are about that cat. Of course, Mark Danielewski likes writing very complicated post-modernist epics, so obviously there's a lot more to the story than that.Publication Date: January 1, 2015
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
What It's About: Most people remember the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland who gets some of the most quotable lines of the book, but it's worth taking a moment to remember Alice's own little kitten, Dinah.Publication Date: October 27, 2015
What It's About: Most people remember the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland who gets some of the most quotable lines of the book, but it's worth taking a moment to remember Alice's own little kitten, Dinah.Publication Date: October 27, 2015
Coraline
What It's About: Coraline is a story about a girl who discovers a door into a parallel universe and her journey to try to get back home. She travels with her helpful, loyal black cat.Publication Date: July 2, 2002
What It's About: Coraline is a story about a girl who discovers a door into a parallel universe and her journey to try to get back home. She travels with her helpful, loyal black cat.Publication Date: July 2, 2002
The Master and Margarita
What It's About: Behemoth is the (utterly fantastic) name of the enormous demonic black cat that is a memorable character in this classic Russian novel by Mikhail Bulgakov. It's a humorous tale of the Devil's visit to Soviet Moscow in the 1930s, but be beforewarned that it's not an easy read.Publication Date: May 3, 2016
What It's About: Behemoth is the (utterly fantastic) name of the enormous demonic black cat that is a memorable character in this classic Russian novel by Mikhail Bulgakov. It's a humorous tale of the Devil's visit to Soviet Moscow in the 1930s, but be beforewarned that it's not an easy read.Publication Date: May 3, 2016
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
What It's About: T.S. Elliot will forever be associated with cats and Cats! due to this whimsical book of poetry. A must to complete any collection of literary-cat-related books.Publication Date: October 5, 1939
What It's About: T.S. Elliot will forever be associated with cats and Cats! due to this whimsical book of poetry. A must to complete any collection of literary-cat-related books.Publication Date: October 5, 1939
Sci-fi, Fantasy & Cats
Morte (War with No Name #1)
What It's About: If you're in the mood for some cat-themed sci-fi, check out this series of books. The titular Morte is a cat assassin searching for his lost love in this first book.Publication Date: January 1, 2014
What It's About: If you're in the mood for some cat-themed sci-fi, check out this series of books. The titular Morte is a cat assassin searching for his lost love in this first book.Publication Date: January 1, 2014
Time Cat: The Remarkable Journeys of Jason and Gareth
What It's About: This is a beloved children's book about a talking, magical cat named Gareth.Publication Date: February 1, 1996
What It's About: This is a beloved children's book about a talking, magical cat named Gareth.Publication Date: February 1, 1996
Warriors Super Edition: Bluestar's Prophecy
What It's About: A series of children's books about super warrior cats. This installment (Bluestar's Prophecy) is a standalone book in the series, so you can get a sense of whether it's something you'd like!Publication Date: June 1, 2009
What It's About: A series of children's books about super warrior cats. This installment (Bluestar's Prophecy) is a standalone book in the series, so you can get a sense of whether it's something you'd like!Publication Date: June 1, 2009
The Starless Sea
What It's About: The Starless Sea isn't really about cats at all, but it's about an underground labyrinth dedicated to storytelling where there are a bunch of cats wandering around.Publication Date: November 5, 2019
What It's About: The Starless Sea isn't really about cats at all, but it's about an underground labyrinth dedicated to storytelling where there are a bunch of cats wandering around.Publication Date: November 5, 2019
Heartwarming Stories about Cats
The Travelling Cat Chronicles
What It's About: From The San Francisco Chronicle: The Travelling Cat Chronicles is a life-affirming anthem to kindness and self-sacrifice that shows how the smallest things can provide the greatest joy—the perfect gift for cat lovers and travelers.Publication Date: October 23, 2018
What It's About: From The San Francisco Chronicle: The Travelling Cat Chronicles is a life-affirming anthem to kindness and self-sacrifice that shows how the smallest things can provide the greatest joy—the perfect gift for cat lovers and travelers.Publication Date: October 23, 2018
All Creatures Great and Small
What It's About: The memoirs of this veterinarian deal with a whole range of animals, including cats. This book is considered something of a classic for animal lovers.Publication Date: May 6, 2014
What It's About: The memoirs of this veterinarian deal with a whole range of animals, including cats. This book is considered something of a classic for animal lovers.Publication Date: May 6, 2014
Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul
What It's About: Leave your cynicism at the door for this one, and get comfy before you dive into this heartwarming collection of stories. Also, get some tissues ready, since if you don't cry, are you even really a cat lover?Publication Date: September 27, 2005
What It's About: Leave your cynicism at the door for this one, and get comfy before you dive into this heartwarming collection of stories. Also, get some tissues ready, since if you don't cry, are you even really a cat lover?Publication Date: September 27, 2005
The Guest Cat
What It's About: A wonderful sui generis novel about a visiting cat who brings joy into a couple’s life in Tokyo.Publication Date: January 28, 2014
What It's About: A wonderful sui generis novel about a visiting cat who brings joy into a couple’s life in Tokyo.Publication Date: January 28, 2014
Illustrated Stories about Cats
How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
What It's About: If your cat is kneading you, that's not a sign of affection. Your cat is actually checking your internal organs for weakness. If your cat brings you a dead animal, this isn't a gift. It's a warning. How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You is an offering of cat comics, facts, and instructional guides from the creative wonderland at TheOatmeal...Publication Date: July 15, 2012
What It's About: If your cat is kneading you, that's not a sign of affection. Your cat is actually checking your internal organs for weakness. If your cat brings you a dead animal, this isn't a gift. It's a warning. How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You is an offering of cat comics, facts, and instructional guides from the creative wonderland at TheOatmeal...Publication Date: July 15, 2012
Simon's Cat
What It's About: Simon Tofield's animations have taken YouTube by storm. Now, the feline Internet phenomenon makes his way onto the page in this first-ever book based on the popular animated series. Simon's Cat depicts and exaggerates the hilarious relationship between a man and his cat. The daily escapades of this adorable pet, which always involve demanding more food, and his exasperated but doting owner come to life through Tofield's charming and hilarious illustrations.Publication Date: September 24, 2009
What It's About: Simon Tofield's animations have taken YouTube by storm. Now, the feline Internet phenomenon makes his way onto the page in this first-ever book based on the popular animated series. Simon's Cat depicts and exaggerates the hilarious relationship between a man and his cat. The daily escapades of this adorable pet, which always involve demanding more food, and his exasperated but doting owner come to life through Tofield's charming and hilarious illustrations.Publication Date: September 24, 2009
Mystery-Solving Cats
The Cat Who Could Read Backwards (The Cat Who Series #1
What It's About: Jim Qwilleran is a prizewinning reporter who's been on the skids but is now coming back with a job as feature writer (mostly on the art scene) for the Daily Fluxion. George Bonifield Mountclemens, the paper's credentialed art critic, writes almost invariably scathing, hurtful reviews of local shows; delivers his pieces by messenger; lives with his all-knowing cat Koko in a lushly furnished house in a moldering neighborhood, and has a raft of enemies all over town...Publication Date: August 15, 1986
What It's About: Jim Qwilleran is a prizewinning reporter who's been on the skids but is now coming back with a job as feature writer (mostly on the art scene) for the Daily Fluxion. George Bonifield Mountclemens, the paper's credentialed art critic, writes almost invariably scathing, hurtful reviews of local shows; delivers his pieces by messenger; lives with his all-knowing cat Koko in a lushly furnished house in a moldering neighborhood, and has a raft of enemies all over town...Publication Date: August 15, 1986
By Book or By Crook (A Lighthouse Library Mystery #1)
What It's About: Get bound up in murder in the first Lighthouse Library mystery!
For ten years Lucy has enjoyed her job poring over rare tomes of literature for the Harvard Library, but she has not enjoyed the demands of her family’s social whorl or her sort-of-engagement to the staid son of her father’s law partner...Publication Date: February 3, 2015
What It's About: Get bound up in murder in the first Lighthouse Library mystery!
For ten years Lucy has enjoyed her job poring over rare tomes of literature for the Harvard Library, but she has not enjoyed the demands of her family’s social whorl or her sort-of-engagement to the staid son of her father’s law partner...Publication Date: February 3, 2015
Cat Chase the Moon (A Joe Grey Mystery #21)
What It's About: Feline P. I. Joe Grey and his friends pounce on three investigations that may connect to one larger mystery—including one case that is very personal—in this hair-raising installment in Shirley Rousseau Murphy’s beloved, award-winning series.
Joe Grey and his partner, Dulcie, are frantic when Courtney, their pretty teen-kitten goes missing...Publication Date: April 23, 2019
What It's About: Feline P. I. Joe Grey and his friends pounce on three investigations that may connect to one larger mystery—including one case that is very personal—in this hair-raising installment in Shirley Rousseau Murphy’s beloved, award-winning series.
Joe Grey and his partner, Dulcie, are frantic when Courtney, their pretty teen-kitten goes missing...Publication Date: April 23, 2019
The Cats Came Back (Magical Cats)
What It's About: Small-town librarian Kathleen Paulson often seems to gets mixed up in murder, but luckily, her very special cats always find a way to help her close a case . . .
The charming Minnesota town of Mayville Heights is hosting a music festival, and the whole place is bustling with musicians and tourists...Publication Date: September 4, 2018
What It's About: Small-town librarian Kathleen Paulson often seems to gets mixed up in murder, but luckily, her very special cats always find a way to help her close a case . . .
The charming Minnesota town of Mayville Heights is hosting a music festival, and the whole place is bustling with musicians and tourists...Publication Date: September 4, 2018
Cat Out of Hell
What It's About: By acclaimed storyteller Lynne Truss, author of the bestselling Eats, Shoots and Leaves, the mesmerising tale of a cat with nine lives, and a relationship as ancient as time itself and just as powerful.
The scene: a cottage on the coast on a windy evening. Inside, a room with curtains drawn...Publication Date: March 8, 2016
What It's About: By acclaimed storyteller Lynne Truss, author of the bestselling Eats, Shoots and Leaves, the mesmerising tale of a cat with nine lives, and a relationship as ancient as time itself and just as powerful.
The scene: a cottage on the coast on a windy evening. Inside, a room with curtains drawn...Publication Date: March 8, 2016
Books about Literary Cat-Lovers
Of Cats and Men: Profiles of History's Great Cat-Loving Artists, Writers, Thinkers, and Statesmen
What It's About: A stylish, illustrated gift book from an award-winning artist that profiles notable cat-loving men throughout history in words and pictures.
Of Cats and Men presents a fresh approach to cat entertainment that’s smart, sweet, and driven by beautiful art (instead of tacky photography, as many cat books are)...Publication Date: April 18, 2017
What It's About: A stylish, illustrated gift book from an award-winning artist that profiles notable cat-loving men throughout history in words and pictures.
Of Cats and Men presents a fresh approach to cat entertainment that’s smart, sweet, and driven by beautiful art (instead of tacky photography, as many cat books are)...Publication Date: April 18, 2017
On Cats
What It's About: Felines touched a vulnerable spot in the unfathomable soul of Charles Bukowski, the Dirty Old Man of American letters. On Cats brings together the acclaimed writer’s reflections on the animals he so admired. Bukowski’s cats are fierce and demanding—he captures them stalking their prey, crawling across his typewritten pages; waking him up with claws across the face...Publication Date: August 15, 2017
What It's About: Felines touched a vulnerable spot in the unfathomable soul of Charles Bukowski, the Dirty Old Man of American letters. On Cats brings together the acclaimed writer’s reflections on the animals he so admired. Bukowski’s cats are fierce and demanding—he captures them stalking their prey, crawling across his typewritten pages; waking him up with claws across the face...Publication Date: August 15, 2017
Hope you enjoyed this list as much as I enjoyed putting it together. For one last piece of cat-related writing, check out this poem entitled “To Mrs. Reynold’s Cat” from an OG cat-lover, poet John Keats.
This is so great! I used to love The Cat Who books. Brings me back! The Travelling Cat Chronicles is one of my favourites books.
For sci-fi cats could I also suggest David Weber’s Honor Harrington books and his young adult series that also feature the tree cats.
Excellent list! Some of my all time favourite cat books on there as well.
I loved this list- Owen and Hercules (the Magical Cats series) are currently my favorites, but Elvis from the author’s Second Chance series is great too.