What is better than a good book? A good cat curled up inside one. With just one twitch of their whisker, the plot thickens. We have seen endless cat memes, hilarious cat videos on Instagram, movies where cats are given a special role, and plays where cat character costumes are worn by humans. But their magic doesn’t stop there, as there are many famous and interesting cat characters in books and comics that readers have adored over the years.
We know they make for great pets, but did you know that they also make a fascinating plot for books? Yes, this is a purr-suasive roundup of all the felines who made us laugh, solved murder mysteries, and the one who broke our hearts. If you are a feline lover, then these cats in fiction will leave their paw prints on your heart. Warning: excessive curiousness, cuteness, and cunningness ahead in these books with cats as characters. Cat lovers, unite!
1. Mimi – Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
Breed: Siamese
Murakami always introduces cats in his books as peculiar, otherworldly creatures. In his book, Kafka on the Shore, Nakata, the main lead, has amnesia and he has the ability to communicate with felines. He meets Mimi, the intelligent Siamese cat, who helps him find a lost cat named Goma.
Mimi is Nakata’s companion and helps him rescue a Goma from a potential threat. She is smart, sophisticated, and elegant. She has impeccable diction and speaks with philosophical depth (that’s no surprise coming from a Murakami character).
2. Maurice – The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett
Breed: Streetwise cat
Terry Pratchett is a famous children’s books author who introduced Maurice, one of the famous literary cats in literature, to his readers. He can speak the human language after swallowing a rat that could talk to humans. He soon becomes the leader of a group of educated rats and a young man named Keith.
They go from one town to another, scamming villagers by claiming to get rid of plague-infested rodents. Maurice can talk and think like humans, along with his cunning cat personality. Despite his merciless actions, he shows immense growth as the story progresses, and he learns to face the consequences of his actions.
3. Nana – The Traveling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa
Breed: Street cat
Rarely are cats in fiction given central characters, but Nana from The Traveling Cat Chronicles breaks all stereotypes by having a cat as the narrator of the story. It’s one of the books with cats as main characters. Nana is a humorous stray cat who gets adopted as a pet by Satoru.
Nana is depicted as an intelligent, proud, and fiercely loyal feline who respects his owner a lot, Satoru, while also exhibiting a cat’s independence and aloofness. During his owner’s grief and loneliness, Nana provides comfort and companionship. If you love contemporary books with cats and heartwarming people, this is a must-read for you.
4. Mog – Mog the Forgetful Cat by Judith Kerr
Breed: Tabby
The next in this list of books with cats as characters is Mog from Mog the Forgetful Cat. She is the main lead in a series of 27 books written by Judith Kerr.
Mog is cute, endearing, and often forgetful, and lives with the Thomas family. She finds herself in funny situations due to her forgetful nature, which often leads to mischief. This is the perfect book for cat lovers.
5. Jiji – Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono
Breed: Domestic shorthair
In the list of famous black cats in literature, Jiji from Kiki’s Delivery Service takes the top spot. The cat is the main character, Kiki’s companion while she trains to become a witch.
Their bond is effortless, and they communicate like siblings. Plus, their relationship is marked by mutual respect and affection which highlights the strength of their partnership. She is hands down the perfect supporting character who is always humble and cautious.
6. The Cat Annoyance – A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Breed: Domestic shorthair
A Man Called Ove is a heartwarmingly sad book about Ove, a widowed, grumpy old man who is living a clockwork life. Even though Ove hates the cat, he shows kindness toward it. Furthermore, Fredrik Backman portrays the cat as a symbol of Ov, who feels unwanted, dismissed, a little rough around the edges, and is also deeply in need of connection.
Soon, the cat wiggles its way into Ove’s life and daily routine. It’s unclear whether the cat is male or female, but in this story of loss, grief, and second chances, this whiskered “annoyance” becomes a quiet catalyst for Ove’s transformation.
7. Church (Winston Churchill) – Pet Sematary by Stephen King
Breed: British Shorthair
Church was soft and loyal, and it was everything little Ellie Creed wanted in a pet. But after Church gets killed in an accident, he returns in a different avatar. He doesn’t roar anymore, has cold eyes, smells rotten, and doesn’t exude the same demeanor.
Church lurks and brings home dead animals and leaves them as warnings. He doesn’t attack or harm anyone, but just this presence is unsettling. It’s like he is always there, always scaring people. Stephen King, the King of Horror, uses Church to tell people that humans shouldn’t mess with death. When a dead person or animal is resurrected, they don’t return kindly.
8. Behemoth – The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
Breed: Werecat (demon)
Behemoth isn’t your usual soft, warm, little ball of fur kitty. He is a six-foot-tall, talking black cat who drinks vodka, cracks sarcastic jokes, and carries a pistol. The most fascinating thing about this literary cat is that he is a member of Satan’s entourage, who is used as comic relief in the story.
While licking his paws and passing snide remarks, Behemoth smoothly juggles between the absurd and the sinister with an ominous flair. One moment he is acting all normal, and the next he is burning down buildings and sending people to their doom.
9. Garfield – Garfield comics and books by Jim Davis
Breed: Orange tabby Persian cat
From the creative imagination of Jim Davis, Garfield is an American strip comic that was first published in the year 1976. Over the decades, Garfield has appeared not only in daily comic strips but in picture books, animated series, and films. Today, there are more than 13,000 Garfield comics that have been translated into several languages.
Here are some things that are common between me and the obese orange cat. We are both lazy, cynical, and love coffee and lasagna. Our nemeses? Mondays, diet, and exercise. If you love dry humor and sarcasm, Garfield comics should be on your TBR list of books with cats as main characters.
10. Skippyjon – Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner
Breed: Siamese kitten
Some more popular books with cats as characters include Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner. Skippyjon believes that he is destined for more than just an average kitty life. He thinks that he is a chihuahua and imagines he is in Mexico when he enters his closet.
His alter-ego, El Skippito Friskito, is a sword-fighting, bandito-battling, and Spanish-speaking hero who fights an enormous bumble bee, El Blimpo Bumblebeeto Bandito. Talk about having a creative imagination! With a flair for drama, his tales are riddled with charm, wit, mischief, and bravery.
11. Solomon – The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth
Breed: Japanese bobtail
At the heart of this tender tale is Solomon, a Japanese bobtail who gets adopted by a poverty-stricken artist. With a calm demeanor, gentleness, and grace, he supports his talented owner as he paints a dead Buddha. All the animals come to seek the Buddha’s blessings.
Because of Solomon’s friendly nature, the artist wants to include him in the portrait of the Buddha blessing the animals. However, the Buddhists consider cats to be arrogant and proud, and they don’t want the cat to be included in the painting.
What follows is a touching meditation on compassion, prejudice, and the transcendent power of love. All conveyed through the quiet companionship between a man and a small, remarkable cat.
12. Mr. Mistoffelees – Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot
Breed: Tuxedo cat
Known for his magical abilities, Mr. Mistoffelees is an embodiment of elegance and surprise who lives in the Jellicle world. When things go wrong here, he dons his magical hat and performs tricks, including acrobatics without any mistakes.
He conjures kittens out of nowhere, restores order in the Jellicle tribe, and fixes problems with a flick of his tail or paw. T. S. Eliot mentions him as affectionate and loving, with a dash of intrigue and mystery. He is one among the spellbinding fictional cats in books who possess the quintessential feline charm.
13. Scarface Claw – Scarface Claw by Lynley Dodd
Breed: Tomcat
Meet the self-declared “toughest Tom in town”, Scarface Claw, who is Hairy Maclary’s arch-enemy. Like most bullies, even Scarface is sort of an empty vessel. Even though he acts like a villain with his intense glare and his chilling meow, he is just a soft kitty on the inside.
As someone who isn’t afraid of anything, there’s something that scares the bejesus out of Scarface. His story is perfect for those who love bold characters, lyrical storytelling, and a little twist at the end. It’s one among the classics that have entertained young readers and adults alike.
14. Crookshanks, Mrs. Norris, and Professor McGonagall – The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Breed: Half-Kneazle Himalayan, Maine Coon, tabby British shorthair
In the wizarding world of Harry Potter, cats play a significant role. Firstly, we have Hermione’s pet, Crookshanks, who has magical abilities just like his owner. The feline cat is fiercely loyal and spots untrustworthy humans and rats.
Mrs. Norris is an eerie, watchful cat just like her owner, Argus Filch, who isn’t nice to anyone else but his cat. She catches students who are out of bed or sneaking around Hogwarts past their bedtime.
Last but not least, Professor McGonagall is an Animagus, which means she can transform herself into any animal whenever she wants. Just like her real character, her feline personality also exudes discipline, loyalty, and quiet rebellion.
15. The Cheshire Cat and Dinah – Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Breed: British Shorthair
The Cheshire Cat is perhaps the most famous cat in literature. Written by Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland is one of the classic books that has stood the test of time. Her depiction of the Cheshire Cat is that he is intelligent, mischievous, and unpredictable. He is an arch-villain who deserves to be on this list for his witty and nonsensical remarks.
Dinah, on the other hand, is Alice’s pet kitten. She is the definition of true friendship and loyalty. A beautiful rodent catcher who is always present in Alice’s life no matter where she is.
Conclusion
These cat characters in books are more than just sidekicks and mischief makers. Each has its own personality and elevates the story of the book. These four-pawed purring characters are what you need when you are feeling low. Go ahead and give them a chance, because in the end, every great book deserves a cat and every cat, a story worthy of them.
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