This book has a variety of short stories from all over the world that all center cats. From how they became cats to how and why they do what they do. I had so much fun reading this. I love cats so much

Thank you Net Galley for the eARC.

The Cat’s Tales is a collection of fairy tales and folklore from around the world, all centered on cats. The stories show cats as clever, magical, and loyal companions, with classics like Dick Whittington and His Cat and The Boy Who Drew Cats.

It’s an easy, cozy read with beautiful illustrations—perfect for cat lovers and those who enjoy magical stories.

As a cat lover, I knew I just had to read this one! The book celebrates the way cats have always been part of our lives, not just as companions, but as figures in history, folklore, and storytelling. I really enjoyed the short story format, which makes it easy to pick up and read in pieces while still feeling connected to a broader theme.

I liked that the book highlights the mystique and personality of cats through tales that feel timeless. Cats have always carried a sense of mystery, wisdom, and independence, and the author captures that well. Reading these stories reminded me how rich their history and lore truly are.

For anyone who loves cats or enjoys folklore inspired writing, this is one to pick up. It made me appreciate the magic and companionship of cats even more!

These were so enjoyable and interesting.

I love cats (who doesn't?), and these bite-sized stories were great for learning more about them and the folklore that surrounds them. There were 40 stories, and what I loved was that each was from a different country, which is so lovely to get such a diverse range of tales in one book.

Highly recommend if you like cats or are into folklore.


Thank you NetGalley and Elliott & Thompson for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Elliott & Thompson and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was such a fun and whimsical collection of stories. As a first time cat owner, I have quickly come to understand why they're so loved and why they're associated with magic. This was a perfect and cozy way to prepare for the leaves changing. I also loved the artwork!

Cats are my absolute most favorite thing in the universe, so this charming collection of folk stories about them tasted like catnip. Forty tales from twenty-eight different cultures dating from thousands of years to the nineteenth century, they all highlight a different aspect of our feline overlords. The Grimm brothers, Charles Perrault and One Thousand and One Nights make an appearance, along with more obscure stories from Native American or African lore. This short volume also includes adorable illustrations and you can see how the author is himself a cat person. Some felines don’t have a good ending, but all the stories highlight their characteristics: lovable, sweet, mischievous and sometimes a little malevolent. There is also an introduction to each tale, explaining where it came from and some of the culture’s attitude towards cats, from the Egyptians who worshiped them to them being declared evil in the middle ages. Iceland, Japan and Ireland are ailurophiles and, despite preferring other critters, the Romans finally had to surrender to their most absolute cuteness. This can be a wonderful gift for the cat lover in your life or you can read it aloud while your kitty listens on your lap. Five stars (or two paws up).
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Elliott & Thompson.

I really enjoyed The Cats Tales!
As a lifelong cat lover, I found it fascinating to see how cats weave their way through folklore across different cultures. The structure worked so well - with each story introduced by helpful context, which set the scene beautifully and gave me insights I didn’t always know.

I especially appreciated the mix of familiar legends and ones I had never come across before, which kept the whole collection fresh and engaging. The retelling style made the stories flow smoothly and feel very accessible.

What I loved most is how this book made me look at my own three cats in a new way – with a bit of mystery and folklore magic behind their eyes.

Thank you to Elliott & Thompson and NetGalley for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

I adore cats and have been owned by quite a few over the years. I have two rescue cats now, one black and one tabby, who I love like they are my children.

Charlie has a wonderful collection of tales here. I like how he has broken this up into sections and includes an introduction to each tale, explaining the origin.

A wonderful read for cat lovers worldwide.

Thank you to Elliott & Thompson and NetGalley for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this snapshot of cats in folklore!

Creed split the tales up into themed sections, while acknowledging many could span sections. Before each story, Creed provides helpful commentary and context about the tale we're about to read. I really liked this format for both background that I wasn't always familiar with and for scene-setting.
I was delighted to see a riff on The King of Cats and the mention of my favourite Scottish tale, Cat Sìth. While Maneki-Neko was mentioned in Creed's commentary, I would have loved to see that legend included too!

Creed made a stylistic choice to rewrite the folk tales in their own style. On one hand, this improved the flow and cohesion of the collection and made the stories more accessible. On the other, the senses of culture and place were dampened through the homogenization.

I noticed one incongruity where early on Creed mentions that white cats are bad luck in England and black cats are considered lucky. I think that's Japan? Later, Creed says black cats are considered bad luck in England and white are lucky. This is probably an oversight that will be corrected in the final proof.

All in all, this was a fast and entertaining book to spend time with over a weekend. If you're interested in how cats feature in a sample of global folklore, check this out! But, bear in mind that some of the stories, in traditional Western folklore style, can be a bit gruesome.

4.5/5