The best picture books about cats capture the unique majesty, mischief, and magic of our feline friends. As a certified cat lady, I adore cat books for kids, which is why I wanted to compile this roundup of the best cat picture books. Whether you’re looking for funny cat picture books or picture books about black cats, there’s a book here for you and the young reader in your life. And if you’re seeking cat books for adults, we’ve got a list on here at Broke by Books with the 30 best cat books for adult readers. Check it out!
And now for an epic list of the best picture books about cats!
Andy and the Lion by James Daugherty
This Caldecott Honor Book is a retelling of the “Androcles and the Lion” folktale. In this book, Andy befriends a lion on his walk back home from school. Though it was published in 1938, the book is still in print. For more information, you can check out the book’s Wikipedia page. Yes, this picture book is so classic that it has its own Wikipedia entry! Now you won’t want to miss it, one of the best picture books about cats of all time.
How to read it: Purchase Andy and the Lion on Amazon
Annie’s Cat Is Sad by Heather Smith and Karen Obuhanych
Kids need to learn the range of possible emotional responses. Nobody is happy and content all the time. In Annie’s Cat Is Sad, children learn how to be sensitive to the emotions, feelings, and experiences of other creatures, in this case, Annie’s cat, who is having a rough time. Through comforting Delilah the cat, Annie understands how to soothe and console another creature, a teaching that kids will learn from this wonderful story. While it’s still a newer title, you’ll see why it’s one of the best picture books about cats.
How to read it: Purchase Annie’s Cat Is Sad on Amazon
Atticus Caticus by Sarah Maizes and Kara Kramer
In this picture book, a boy speaks in verse to tell us all about his cat Atticus. We learn about Atticus’s day, what he likes, and what he doesn’t. Atticus is, like all cats, hard to please and pretty particular. This book is funny and sweet and will win readers’ hearts with the rhyming narrative.
How to read it: Purchase Atticus Caticus on Amazon
Bad Cat! By Nicola O’Byrne
This charming picture book teaches kids about apologizing and facing the consequences of their “bad” behavior. Fluffykins has had a whole day of misbehavior. But will he ever show remorse, apologize, and meet the natural outcomes of his transgressions? You’ll return to this one over and over again to find out.
How to read it: Purchase Bad Cat! on Amazon
The Bookshop Cat by Cindy Wume
Bookshop cats are the best! When I was a student at the University of Pennsylvania, I loved visiting The Last Word Bookstore on 40th Street, which made my list of the best bookstores in Philadelphia. There was a bookshop cat that lived there, and I have many fond memories of discovering the cat in the stacks. Sto I was so delighted to see Cindy Wume’s The Bookshop Cat, which is all about a (fictional) cat at a children’s bookstore who helps the shop rebuild after a flood.
How to read it: Purchase The Bookshop Cat on Amazon
The Cat from Hunger Mountain by Ed Young
A best book of the year for Kirkus and Amazon, The Cat from Hunger Mountain from Caldecott Medalist Ed Young is a must-read picture book about cats for kids. In Hunger Mountain, Lord Cat lives like a king. But when the country around him experiences drought, Lord Cat has to learn how to be a leader and leave his beloved home mountain behind.
How to read it: Purchase The Cat from Hunger Mountain on Amazon
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss’s beloved 1957 picture book The Cat in the Hat might be the most famous cat book ever and definitely ranks high on any list of the best picture books about cats. And there’s good reason! I reread this one when I was getting my MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults, and the classic held up! It was just as quirky and offbeat as I remembered. No list of the best picture books about cats would be complete without this treasured title. Check out the book’s Wikipedia page for more background on this book and its legacy.
How to read it: Purchase The Cat in the Hat on Amazon
Cat Ladies by Susi Schaefer
As a cat lady, I am so glad this book exists! Susi Schaefer’s Cat Ladies is all about that stereotypical character, the cat lady! Our heroine is Princess the kitty, who is “owned” by four different cat ladies. When a stray cat invades her space, Princess pulls the diva card and leaves. Then she encounters danger that the stray saves her from. This charming cat friendship story features a cat with maximum cat-titude.
How to read it: Purchase Cat Ladies on Amazon
Cat Nap by Toni Yuly
This book of opposites—big and small, black and white, etc.—stars two cats who play hide and seek. Cat seeks some solitude while Kitten won’t let him alone. I love the bold coloring of this story, one of the best picture books about cats.
How to read it: Purchase Cat Nap on Amazon
Cat Problems by Jory John and Lane Smith
The cat who stars in Jory John and Lane Smith’s picture book has it made. He has everything a domesticated house cat could want. But still, nothing is quite perfect, and this little kitty has a lot of cat problems. Humorous and warm, this must-read picture book about cats is one of the best cat books for kids and surely one to put on your to-be-read (TBR) list.
How to read it: Purchase Cat Problems on Amazon
Chato’s Kitchen by Gary Soto and Susan Guevara
In Chato’s Kichen, our titular hero Chato is a low-riding chef in Los Angeles. When a family of mice move into the neighborhood, Chato and his fellow cat friend Novio Boy break out the pots and pans in anticipation of a tasty feast. But the mice have other ideas…this is one of the top funny picture books about cats.
How to read it: Purchase Chato’s Kitchen on Amazon
Endless Pawsibilities by Sean Charmatz
This friendship story is filled with playful wordplay, including fun puns. Using cat arms and paws to depict different characters and their friends, Sean Charmatz has created a cat picture book you won’t want to miss.
How to read it: Purchase Endless Pawsibilities on Amazon
How to Give Your Cat a Bath in Five Easy Steps by Nicola Winstanley and John Martz
As any cat owner knows, sometimes cats do need baths, but they never want one. It can be difficult to bathe your cat when she’s offering resistance, yet baths are sometimes necessary. In this picture book, young readers learn how to give their cat a bath in just five simple steps. Read it and see why it’s one of the best cat books for kids.
How to read it: Purchase How to Give Your Cat a Bath in Five Easy Steps on Amazon
I Am a Cat by Galia Bernstein
Simon is a domesticated house cat who gets chewed out for not being “cat enough” by “bigger cats,” including a lion, a tiger, a puma, a panther, and a cheetah that he meets. But while Simon doesn’t have a majestic mane or black stripes, he does measure up in more ways than one. This story about embracing your individuality and celebrating diversity is sure to delight, making it among the best picture books about cats.
How to read it: Purchase I Am a Cat on Amazon
The Little Kitten by Nicola Killen
As one of the My Little Animal Friend series, The Little Kitten is a sweet friendship story and belongs on any compilation of the best cat picture books. Ollie and her cat Pumpkin are playing one day when they encounter a stray kitten. Ollie and Pumpkin welcome the kitten into their family, but when they see flyers posted around town seeking their new friend, they know they have to help connect the little cat with her family. With its autumnal setting and Halloween theme, this book is perfect for the fall.
How to read it: Purchase The Little Kitten on Amazon
Macavity: The Mystery Cat by T. S. Eliot and Arthur Robins
In T. S. Eliot’s feline-themed poetry collection Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, which was later adapted as the Broadway show Cats, one of the kitties featured is mischievous Macavity “The Mystery Cat.” Now, in this picture book with illustrations by Arthur Robins, Macavity stars as the focus of the story, making it one of the must-read funny cat picture books,. With a sense of humor and a dose of playful energy, Macavity: The Mystery Cat is a perfect fit for kids who love picture books about cats. This one is absolutely on any list of the best picture books about cats. (Macavity is just one of the Old Possum cats adapted into picture books. Check out the series here.)
How to read it: Purchase Macavity: The Mystery Cat on Amazon
Maya and the Lost Cat by Caroline Magerl
Maya notices Cat prowling around the roof. She tries to get Cat to come down, but nothing, not even a feather boa or beautiful pink shoe laces does the trick. You’ll fall for this cute story about searching, rescuing, and finding your way home, for sure one of the best cat picture books.
How to read it: Purchase Maya and the Lost Cat on Amazon
Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag
One of the best picture books about cats of all time, Millions of Cats was published in 1928, but it remains in publication even today as new readers discover it through the years. A Newbery Honor winner, this precious book tells the story of a kind old couple who seek out one cat to adopt. But they can’t stop the floodgates, and soon they own thousands, no millions, no billions, in fact trillions of cats. You’ll love these vintage illustrations and see why it’s among the essential cat books for kids. Learn more on the book’s Wikipedia page.
How to read it: Purchase Millions of Cats on Amazon
Monet’s Cat by Lily Murray and Becky Cameron
For sure this one ranks among the best picture books about cats. In this story, the great French artist Claude Monet has a tiny statue of a white cat that comes to life once it wakes up from its nap. Then it’s hopping in and out of Monet’s paintings, forever just outside of Monet’s reach. Inspired by a real porcelain cat housed in Monet’s studio, Monet’s Cat is a neat way to introduce kids to this Impressionist master’s body of work.
How to read it: Purchase Monet’s Cat on Amazon
Negative Cat by Sophie Blackall
The boy hero of the story in this picture book is overjoyed to bring Max the cat home from the adoption agency. But Max isn’t anything like the family expect. He spends most of his time facing the wall, he doesn’t care for his toys, and doesn’t want to wear the hand-knit sweater crafted for him. But the boy refuses to give up and soon finds a way to reach the “negative” cat: through practicing his reading out loud, a task that scares him. Soon Max and the boy are fast friends who understand each other. This book about embracing unconventionality and never giving up on someone will melt your heart. Negative Cat is for sure one of the best picture books about cats.
How to read it: Purchase Negative Cat on Amazon
The New Kitten by Joyce Carol Oates and Dave Mattrom
As the sole cat in her home, Cherie is used to being the whole focus of her family’s attention. Cherie basks in being the only cat. But when her owners bring home a new kitten, Cherie has to learn how to share the spotlight. This story will resonate with any young reader who has ever had to make space with new family members, making it at the top of any list of the best cat picture books.
How to read it: Purchase The New Kitten on Amazon
Niblet & Ralph by Zachariah OHora
Niblet and Ralph are cats who look alike and also happen to be neighbors. They enjoy waving to each other from across the courtyard at the apartment building where they live. But when they try to meet in person, each ends up at the other’s home. How long can they go without their owners realizing the difference? Children will want to return this sweet cat story about friendship and family told in bold artwork regularly, making it among the must-read cat books for kids.
How to read it: Purchase Niblet & Ralph on Amazon
Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner
Judy Schachner, the author-illustrator behind the 14-book-long Skippyjon Jones series, lives in my hometown, so I’ve always felt a deep affinity for her books. And the Skippyjon Jones series is a big deal in kid lit. Start with the first book to feature this spirited Siamese kitty, Skippyjon Jones, and enjoy his many adventures under his alias “El Skippito,” where he tackles the world as a sword fighter. This is certainly one of the best picture books about cats.
How to read it: Purchase Skippyjon Jones on Amazon
Slinky Malinki by Lynley Dodd
Looking for funny picture books about cats? You’ve come to the right place. During the day, Slinky Malinki is a plucky, mischievous cat who has plenty of adventures. But when the sun sets and the moon rises in the sky, Slinky Malinki turns into a thief, stealing bananas, milk bottles, and even pottery smocks. Slinky Malinki gets away with it, until one night he doesn’t… one of the best cat picture books, Slinky Malinki is part of the beloved twenty-book long Hairy Maclary and Friends series.
How to read it: Purchase Slinky Malinki on Amazon
Sneakers, the Seaside Cat by Margaret Wise Brown and Anne Mortimer
From the author of Goodnight Moon, this captivating picture book about cats features Sneakers, a black-and-white cat who has many seaside adventures. The artwork and storytelling in this book sing. This one is for sure one of the most beloved cat books for kids and a story that is destined to be read again and again.
How to read it: Purchase Sneakers, the Seaside Cat on Amazon
Strange Planet: The Sneaking, Hiding, Vibrating Creature by Nathan W. Pyle
by Nathan W. Pyle
Nathan W. Pyle’s Instagram comic series Strange Planet features aliens exploring humankind on Earth. And in this picture book, the first in a series, Lifegiver tasks Offspring with studying a bizarre, sneaking, hiding, vibrating creature…that happens to be a cat. Reading this book makes you realize just how astonishing cats really are. It will help any friend of felines look at kitties in a new light. If you’re looking for funny picture books about cats, you’ll want to add this story to your TBR.
How to read it: Purchase Strange Planet: The Sneaking, Hiding, Vibrating Creature on Amazon
They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel
I wrote about this astonishing picture book in my second semester of my MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults graduate program. I love this picture book about cats so much. The story rotates from creature to creature showing how each of them view the cat from their unique perspective. For instance, the mouse sees a loud and angry being while the bird sees a blurry shape hurrying through the field. This genius picture book shows us how we each have different points of view that filter how we view and interact with our surroundings. It is for certain one of the best picture books about cats.
How to read it: Purchase They All Saw a Cat on Amazon
Three Little Kittens by Barbara McClintock
This fresh take on the “Three Little Kittens” tale from Mother Goose will surely delight. With its cartoon-ish illustrations, Three Little Kittens updates the iconic poem with cat characters who are larger than life. The many personalities of these particular kitties are on full display in a story that promotes themes of kindness and empathy for people we don’t know. This is one of the best funny cat picture books.
How to read it: Purchase Three Little Kittens on Amazon
This Little Kitty by Karen Obuhanych
One of the best cat books for kids, this cute story about cats follows a group of feisty felines who play during the day and seek affection from their owners at night. The illustrations on this one really pop in this silly story about a crew of mischievous kitties.
How to read it: Purchase This Little Kitty on Amazon
Yoda: The Story of a Cat and His Kittens by Beth Stern and Devin Crane
by Beth Stern and Devin Crane
And now for the last entry in this roundup of the best picture books about cats. This tender book is inspired by the real-life Yoda, the fluffy white cat author Beth and her husband Howard Stern adopted. Yoda finds his life purpose when Beth and David fostered kittens. Yoda steps in and becomes the kittens’ mother and father. Devin Crane’s playful illustrations brings this one to life.
