Alright, let me get this right out there: if you love chaos, cat fur, and the sound of your friends groaning, you might want to check out this review. I roped my crew into playing ‘cats’ last week, and let’s just say the room got loud, weird, and surprisingly competitive. We bickered, we meowed, and yes, we accused each other of felonious (get it?) moves. This review will sniff through the good, the furballs, and everything in between—so you know if your next game night should be all about whiskers and whiskers only.
How It Plays
Setting up
First, spread the board out and hand each player their pile of adorable cat tokens. Shuffle the deck of event cards—don’t let your own cat help, unless you like chaos. Give every player a starting card, and place the fish tokens in the middle. That’s it! No PhD required.
Gameplay
On your turn, play a card from your hand. These cards let you steal, swap, or even nap cat tokens. Some cards cause mass confusion—watch out for the laser pointer! After playing a card, you draw back up. There’s plenty of meowing, groaning, and “I can’t believe you did that!” moments. Expect alliances to last roughly one and a half turns.
Winning the game
The game ends when the event deck runs dry or a player collects the secret combo of tokens. Then, count up your tokens. Most points win. But don’t get too cocky—someone will swear vengeance and want to play again right away.
Want to know more? Read our extensive strategy guide for Cats.
Gameplay Mechanics and Player Interaction: Herding Cats or Herding Chaos?
I have a confession: I’m not a cat person. I’m allergic. But I’ll risk a runny nose for a good board game. The gameplay in ‘cats’ is all about, well, cats. Each player controls a sneaky feline, hellbent on claiming the coziest spots in the house. The goal is simple—outmaneuver your fellow cat enthusiasts and get your paws on the most points, a.k.a. fancy cushions, fish snacks, and random laser-pointers of glory.
The core mechanic revolves around secret movement and card play. At the start of each round, everyone picks a card representing their cat’s next move. Once everyone reveals, chaos breaks out. It’s not unusual for three cats to end up fighting over the same box. I once spent four straight rounds arguing with my friend Paul over who earned the sunbeam spot. This game has a real knack for making even quiet people get loud!
Here’s the kicker—sometimes your fate feels a bit out of your hands. If two people move to the same spot, a coin flip or card draw decides who wins the spot. Not ideal if, like me, you think luck should stay out of things except for lottery tickets and finding loose change. But honestly, the randomness adds a lot of laughs, especially when someone’s bold plan gets ruined by an unlucky draw. Still, if you’re the type who plans ten moves ahead like a chess grandmaster, this might drive you up the wall (or onto the kitchen counter, if you’re roleplaying too hard).
Overall, ‘cats’ shines brightest in its player interaction. It’s more social than strategic, perfect for families or people who want to yell, “No, MY cat gets the cardboard box!” Stay tuned, because next I’ll be sniffing out the theme and artwork like a cat on a fresh bag of catnip!
Whiskers, Tails, and Tabletop: Theme and Artwork in the World of Cats
If you want to know how much this game loves cats, just look at the box. There are more cats staring at you than my cousin’s phone wallpaper. The theme is crystal clear—this is a game about cats doing what cats do best: causing chaos, chasing laser dots, and knocking everything over. Every card and piece is a fluffy tribute to our favorite four-legged overlords.
The artwork is as cute as a kitten wearing a bowtie. Seriously, I’ve never seen so many adorable cat drawings in one place. You get grumpy cats, sleepy cats, cats leaping through the air—each cat painted with personality. If you appreciate bold colors and fun illustrations (and frankly, who doesn’t?), you’ll find yourself grinning as soon as you open the box. My friend picked up a card and squealed like he just saw the real thing—then promptly tried to steal it for his own collection.
Even the rulebook is filled with cat jokes and little paw prints, so you know the designer is a true cat fan, not just someone cashing in on Internet cat culture. The board looks like a giant, cozy living room where every nook is just waiting for a cat to nap in. It’s inviting, light-hearted, and makes the game feel more like a playful cartoon than your usual, serious strategy contest.
Next up, I’ll spill the beans on whether playing ‘cats’ with your dog-loving aunt or your competitive gaming group leaves you purring with joy or just shedding hair from frustration. Replay value is about to take the center stage, whiskers first!
How Many Lives Does This Game Have? Replay Value With Different Groups
Alright, so I’ve played ‘cats’ with all sorts of people. My competitive friends, my family (who can’t even open a rulebook), and even my cat. Well, the cat mostly batted the meeples off the table and then fell asleep on the board, but you get the idea.
With my friends, things got pretty wild. I found that ‘cats’ really shines when you’ve got a group that loves playful banter and doesn’t mind a bit of chaos. The game is easy to explain—even to someone who thinks strategy is just remembering where they left their keys. Every session played out differently because people would try new tricks to block each other or form alliances…and then betray them five minutes later. It’s a real “herd of cats” feeling: a little teamwork, a lot of mischief.
With family, the pace is slower, but the laughter is louder. ‘Cats’ doesn’t punish new players, so younger kids and less experienced gamers actually stood a chance (unlike in other games where I stomp my little nephew, and he threatens never to speak to me again). It’s got enough options so every game feels fresh, but not so much that you need a spreadsheet to keep track. Some nights, we played three rounds back-to-back. On others, we just enjoyed trying out silly new tactics, like “all tails, no paws.” Don’t ask, it’s a family thing.
So whether you’ve got cutthroat friends or a gentle crew, ‘cats’ seems to land on its feet. Next up, I’ll answer the burning question: is this game about thinking like a feline or just a toss of the dice?
Luck vs Skill: Are Your Cats In Control Or Is Fate The Real Master?
I always end up arguing with my friend Jackie about luck versus skill, usually after she claims her cat game victories are due to pure strategy and not the seven lucky dice rolls she got in a row. In ‘cats’, you will definitely notice this tug-of-war between fate and clever planning. If you love games where careful moves always win, you might get frustrated when someone draws the perfect Fancy Fish Card and snatches victory from your paws.
Now, don’t get me wrong. There is strategy in ‘cats’. You have to decide which toy to chase or which room to nap in for the most points. It’s not just about throwing a handful of meeple-shaped cats and hoping for the best! But every turn, there’s a healthy (or unhealthy, depending on your luck) amount of card drawing and dice rolling. Yes, there were moments where my carefully built stash of catnip got snatched by someone who drew the “Cat Chaos” card. It’s hard to pretend you’re a master tactician when the game hands the win to your little cousin after they close their eyes and pick a random card.
If you’re after a deep test of wits, ‘cats’ might not deliver on every front. But if you want big laughs, some silly sabotage, and don’t mind a smidge of chaos, there’s plenty of fun here. Just keep in mind, your skill can only go so far when the cardboard cats have other plans. Do I recommend it? For families and groups that like their games a bit wild and unpredictable, absolutely. Serious gamers should keep their claws sheathed.
Conclusion
So there you have it, my review of ‘cats’—the board game, not actual felines (my carpet is grateful). If you love wild artwork, quirky cat antics, and watching friendships get tested by a little chaos, ‘cats’ will be a hit with your group. The theme is strong and the cats are almost too cute to be this sneaky. But be warned, serious tacticians might find themselves clawing at the walls since luck definitely runs the show here. I laughed, I yowled, and I may have lost two friends to a last-minute card steal. This sums up my review. If you want merry mayhem over deep strategy, ‘cats’ fits the bill. Just keep an eye on your own snacks—these cats steal everything!
