August 8, 2026

Today is International Cat Day, which seems the perfect excuse to talk about one of fantasy’s most enduring companions: the cat. From mysterious familiars and talking felines to shape-shifters and ghost-watchers, cats have always belonged in fantasy. Join me as I celebrate nineteen-year-old Strider—our gloriously opinionated Norwegian Forest Cat—and explore why cats may have been magical long before fantasy writers ever noticed.