Cats Books for Kids
452 books in cats. Every book rated for reading level and content intensity.
Cats books for kids span a wider readiness range than parents usually expect. The same genre category contains gentle picture books and high-intensity middle-grade novels — Lexile and grade-level scores measure text complexity, not what's actually in the story. A cats title appropriate for a confident 8-year-old reader could still cover themes a sensitive 12-year-old isn't ready for.
Across HootRated's 452 cats titles, books span picture books through Grade 7. About 97% are rated Gentle or Mild — safe picks for sensitive readers and kids reading ahead of their emotional readiness. 0% sit at the Intense or Very Intense end. Average content intensity is 1.2/5.
Use the intensity badges (green → red, low → high) to filter by emotional readiness rather than just age. For deeper detail on how we rate, see our rating methodology.
The winged cat
Deborah Nourse Lattimore
The winged cat
Deborah Nourse Lattimore
That bad, bad cat!
Claire Masurel
That bad, bad cat!
Claire Masurel
Digby and Kate 1,2,3
Barbara Baker
Digby and Kate 1,2,3
Barbara Baker
Trapped!
Jean Little
Trapped!
Jean Little
The Littles
John Lawrence Peterson
The Littles
John Lawrence Peterson
Dog and Cat shake a leg
Kate Spohn
Dog and Cat shake a leg
Kate Spohn
The church mouse
Graham Oakley
The church mouse
Graham Oakley
The case of the vanishing cat
Dorothy Brenner Francis
The case of the vanishing cat
Dorothy Brenner Francis
Buster and the little kitten
Hisako Madokoro
Buster and the little kitten
Hisako Madokoro
The sea-thing child
Russell Hoban
The sea-thing child
Russell Hoban
Take care, Good Knight
Shelley Moore Thomas
Take care, Good Knight
Shelley Moore Thomas
The Cat, the Dog, Little Red, the Exploding Eggs, the Wolf, and Grandma
Diane Fox
The Cat, the Dog, Little Red, the Exploding Eggs, the Wolf, and Grandma
Diane Fox
Thumpy Feet
Betsy Lewin
Thumpy Feet
Betsy Lewin
The cat that went woof!
Martyn Beardsley
The cat that went woof!
Martyn Beardsley
Hissy Fitz
Patrick Jennings
Hissy Fitz
Patrick Jennings
What does the rain play?
Nancy White Carlstrom
What does the rain play?
Nancy White Carlstrom
Why not?
Sylvia A. Hofsepian
Why not?
Sylvia A. Hofsepian
Kitten in trouble
Maria Polushkin Robbins
Kitten in trouble
Maria Polushkin Robbins
Here's that kitten!
Maria Polushkin Robbins
Here's that kitten!
Maria Polushkin Robbins
Cat and mouse
Rodney Peppé
Cat and mouse
Rodney Peppé
Rooftop wizard
Bruce Emmett
Rooftop wizard
Bruce Emmett
Pomily's wish.
Eleanor Nilsson
Pomily's wish.
Eleanor Nilsson
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's dairy
Lynley Dodd
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's dairy
Lynley Dodd
I am the cat
Lee Bennett Hopkins
I am the cat
Lee Bennett Hopkins
The muddle-headed Wombat on clean-up day
Ruth Park
The muddle-headed Wombat on clean-up day
Ruth Park
The patchwork cat
Nicola Bayley
The patchwork cat
Nicola Bayley
Clever cat
Peter Collington
Clever cat
Peter Collington
Old Belleʼs summer holiday
Philippa Pearce
Old Belleʼs summer holiday
Philippa Pearce
Tabitha Tabby's fantastic flavor
Jean Little
Tabitha Tabby's fantastic flavor
Jean Little
The antique store cat
Leslie A. Baker
The antique store cat
Leslie A. Baker
Chloë and Maude
Sandra Boynton
Chloë and Maude
Sandra Boynton
Captain Kidd's cat
Robert Lawson
Captain Kidd's cat
Robert Lawson
The church mice spread their wings
Graham Oakley
The church mice spread their wings
Graham Oakley
Purnell's life cycle book of cats
Ronald Ridout
Purnell's life cycle book of cats
Ronald Ridout
Wendell
Eric Jon Nones
Wendell
Eric Jon Nones
That's not Chester!
Carol Nicklaus
That's not Chester!
Carol Nicklaus
Looking for Felix
Elizabeth Hathorn
Looking for Felix
Elizabeth Hathorn
Garfield Goes to a Picnic
Jim Davis, Mike Fentz
Garfield Goes to a Picnic
Jim Davis, Mike Fentz
Crab cat
Nicola Bayley
Crab cat
Nicola Bayley
We'll have a friend for lunch.
Jane Flory
We'll have a friend for lunch.
Jane Flory
Mice on My Mind
Bernard Waber
Mice on My Mind
Bernard Waber
Bimmi Finds a Cat
Elisabeth Jane Stewart
Bimmi Finds a Cat
Elisabeth Jane Stewart
Jacob and the stranger
Sally Derby
Jacob and the stranger
Sally Derby
Temple cat
Andrew Clements
Temple cat
Andrew Clements
Lyle at Christmas
Bernard Waber
Lyle at Christmas
Bernard Waber
Will that wake mother?
Martha McKeen Welch
Will that wake mother?
Martha McKeen Welch
Daisy, Buttercup, and Weed
Jean Little
Daisy, Buttercup, and Weed
Jean Little
The tale of Tom Kitten
Elsa Knight Bruno
The tale of Tom Kitten
Elsa Knight Bruno
Chin Yu Min and the ginger cat
Jennifer L. Armstrong
Chin Yu Min and the ginger cat
Jennifer L. Armstrong
Benjamin Bunny visits Peter Rabbit
Corey Nash
Benjamin Bunny visits Peter Rabbit
Corey Nash
Digby and Kate and the beautiful day
Barbara Baker
Digby and Kate and the beautiful day
Barbara Baker
Cats
Norman S. Barrett
Cats
Norman S. Barrett
Selina, the mouse, and the giant cat
Susi Bohdal
Selina, the mouse, and the giant cat
Susi Bohdal
The hallowe'en cat
Kenneth Lillington
The hallowe'en cat
Kenneth Lillington
The witch and the ring
Ruth Chew
The witch and the ring
Ruth Chew
Madame Pastry and Meow
Evelyn White Minshull
Madame Pastry and Meow
Evelyn White Minshull
The rescue of Aunt Pansy
Lisa Campbell Ernst
The rescue of Aunt Pansy
Lisa Campbell Ernst
The baby blue cat and the whole batch of cookies
Ainslie Pryor
The baby blue cat and the whole batch of cookies
Ainslie Pryor
Moving
Michael Rosen
Moving
Michael Rosen
Mary Moon is missing
Patricia Reilly Giff
Mary Moon is missing
Patricia Reilly Giff
Browse all 452 cats books
- Basil and the pygmy cats
- Pandora
- Kitty's carrier
- Me and my dad
- The cat who escaped from steerage
- Midnight prowlers
- Buffy and Albert
- Chipmunk!
- If mice could fly
- Horatio solves a mystery
- The church mice at Christmas
- Mother Halverson's new cat
- My cat
- Wee G.
- King O' the Cats
- Daring Dog and Captain Cat
- "Oh no, cat!"
- Orlando (The Marmalade Cat) Goes to the Moon
- Molto's dream
- Parrot cat
- Terrible, terrible tiger
- What's up with my cat?
- Pat the cat
- Katje, the windmill cat
- The long wait
- Little Hippo's new friend
- Cats
- Kitten
- Where do cats live?
- Good times with Teddy Bear
- Enrico starts school
- Grammy & Sammy
- Cats
- Gingercat's catch.
- The fur person
- Cats (A Lerner Natural Science Book)
- Snot stew
- Branigan's cat and the Halloween ghost
- Cats
- Have you seen Josephine?
- Cats! cats! cats!
- The cat's pajamas
- Radlauers' cats!
- Snowflake
- Jake and Jenny on the town
- Merry Christmas, Thomas!
- Cats are curious
- Merry Christmas, Festus and Mercury
- Festus & Mercury wishing to go fishing
- The white cat
- Hide-and-seek around the house
- Zoom away
- Cats in the dark
- Double-rhyme--Our brat cat
- Tilly and Mrs Tweddle
- The cat hat
- How the Devil Got His Cat
- The beginning of the river
- Bruno to the rescue
- Vinnie in Egypt
- Beads the cat
- The Nine Lives of Romeo Crumb
- The Nine Lives of Romeo Crumb
- Tom and Francine
- Little Robin Redbreast
- The adventures of Pusscat Wizzy Willums
- Mr. Fidgit's big day
- Flix
- The neighbor's cats
- Emmett's dream
- What now, Puss?
- The twelve cats of Christmas
- Velvet
- King Purple
- Meet My Cats
- The time-travelling cat
- Mog Collection (Mog)
- Pete the Cat and the New Guy
- The edgeview cat (Spotlight books)
- Taking my dog to the vet
- The cat and the bell
- Tale of a Black Cat
- Purrfectly Purrfect
- Splat the cat
- I Love My White Shoes
- Cat Walk
- Cats Sleep Anywhere (Trophy Picture Books (Paperback))
- The cat that scratched
- Mrs Pepperpot and the Treasure
- Gobbolino, the witch's cat
- The terrible trins
- Dr. Cat (Hello Reading)
- The cat who lost his purr
- Motley the Cat
- A Soldier's Friend
- Hairy Maclary's Caterwaul Caper
- The cats in the doll shop
- The very best of friends
- Ghost Cat
- The marvellous story of Puss in boots
- Very Little Dog & Smart Little Kitty
- The Cat Sat on the Mat (A Peep-through Picture Book)
- Pocket Eyewitness Cats
- Garfield
- HOUSE SMASHERS (TOM & JERRY)
- Ruby
- Captain Kidd's Cat
- The cats of Seroster
- Cat's Whispers and Tales
- Pip the Prize Kitten (Jenny Dale's Kitten Tales)
- Diary of a Church Mouse, The
- The church mice at bay
- The Church Mice and the Ring
- The Second Floor Cat
- Ginger Ninja 5
- Frankenstein's Cat
- Looking for Lola!
- Cat and Mouse in the Rain
- Looking for Juliette (Lisle, Janet Taylor. Investigators of the Unknown, Bk. 2.)
- My Lives and How I Lost Them
- Moggy the Mouser (6-pack)
- Goodbye, funny dumpy-lumpy
- Only the Cat Saw
- Barn Cat
- The Cat Barked?
- Just Dog
- Cat and mouse in the snow
- In the House
- Daisy, Buttercup, and Weed
- Mommy's Briefcase
- Widget
- Dolores and the big fire
- Garfield's scary tales
- Pinky Pye (Sequel to the Newbery Medal-Winning "Ginger Pye")
- Bow Wow Meow Meow
- The Cats in Krasinski Square
- Who stole Halloween?
- Christmas for a kitten
- Cats
- Wiggie Wins the West
- The tenth good thing about Barney
- Fievel's journey
- Kittens
- Kitten from one to ten
- Benjamin Bunny visits Peter Rabbit
- The Cat Who Found His Way Home
- Across Town
- Taking Care of Your Cat (Taking Care of Your Pet)
- Taking Care of Your Dog (Taking Care of You Pet)
- Molly, The Super Cat
- Spooky book of tricks and treats
- How To Speak Dog
- Cat dreams
- Skippyjon Jones In Mummy Trouble
- Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, are you waking up?
- Houndsley and Catina and the quiet time
- Merry Christmas, Splat
- The witchy worries of Abbie Adams
- Alone in the night
- Funny Fairy Tales! Rapurrzel
- Cat Burglar Caper
- Binky the space cat
- Five black cats
- The Christmas Kitten-new Hardcover Book and Cute Plush Kitten
- Dog Man and Cat Kid
- Diary Days (Young Corgi)
- Mystery Cat
- Black cat
- Cat Heaven
- Two Kittens Are Born
- Felix the Cat
- Cat and Mouse in the Rain
- Here Comes the Cat!
- Even For A Mouse
- Where's That Cat? (Hide & Seek Science, No 4)
- My Cat Beany
- Tom and Jerry the Movie
- Leo the Magnificat
- The Claw
- Kitten
- The Mystery of the Disappearing Cat
- My Grrrreat Uncle Tiger (Accelerated Readers)
- Case of the Karate Kitty-Nappers (Ace Ventura Chapter Books)
- Leo the Lucky Kitten (Kitten Friends)
- Mr. Putter and Tabby Paint the Porch
- Mr. Putter and Tabby Stir the Soup (Mr. Putter and Tabby)
- Worst Witch at Sea
- Stuart Finds His Way Home (Stuart-Little)
- Cat Mummies
- Mr. Putter and Tabby Take the Train (Mr. Putter & Tabby)
- Garfield and the Wicked Wizard (Planet Reader Chapter Books)
- Grannyman
- Fred's Midnight Prowler
- 10 cats
- A beautiful feast for a big king cat (Big shared book)
- Cat, you better come home
- A cat called Amnesia
- Pajamas for Kit.
- DON'T GO NEAR MRS. TALLIE (FRIGHTMARES 3): DON'T GO NEAR MRS. TALLIE (Frightmares)
- Cat
- Cool Cat, Hot Dog
- How to Be a Cat
- The Tale of Tom Kitten and Jemima Puddle-duck
- Story of Miss Moppet Ltd Centenary Edn
- Tom Kitten (Potter Shaped Board Book)
- Tailor of Gloucester
- Tale of Samuel Whiskers
- Comical Cats
- Be Gentle!
- Catkin
- One Fat Cat (First Story Plays)
- How to Draw Cats (Young Artist)
- Scaredy Cat
- Bad cat, Ned!
- Tom's big nap
- Cat (Eyewitness Video)
- Delilah Alone (Galaxy Children's Large Print)
- The mystery of the clever cat
- A Cat Named Sunny
- Martha Counts Her Kittens
- Ginger
- Hungry Cat
- Bump! Thump! Splat!
- Meow!
- There are cats in this book
- Henry and Mudge and the Happy Cat (Henry & Mudge Books)
- Mr Putter and Tabby Walk the Dog (Mr. Putter & Tabby)
- Animal-Shaped Board Books
- I'm too busy
- The True-or-False Book Of Cats
- Tallyho, Pinkerton
- Orchard Cat
- Witches, Pumpkins and Grinning Ghosts
- The Third Garfield Treasury!
- The Little Runaway (Modern Curriculum Press Beginning to Read Series)
- The Fire Cat (I Can Read Books)
- Hello Kitty Visits Grandma!
- Hello Kitty Journal
- Hello Kitty
- How Big How Fast How Hungry
- My Lives and How I Lost Them
- Puss in Boots (Troll's Best-Loved Classics)
- Dick Whittington and his cat
- The beckoning cat
- The Valentine cat
- Who stole Halloween?
- Pig and Cat are pals
- What Does Boots Hear ?
- Karen and the little lost kitten
- Snooze
- Hop and Scotch
- Snowflake
- Barney the Beagle
- Jenny's Adopted Brothers
- The Cat That Walked by Himself
- Top Cat (Cocky's Circle Little Books)
- Pizza Cat
- Tales at the mouse hole
- Cats, Cats, and More Cats
- Garfield Takes the Cake
- Apartment for rent
- Blue Cat of Castle Town
- Village of the Vampire Cat
- Where's home?
- Goldie
- My House
- Chulita the blind cat
- Barn Kitty
- Captain Stumpy the Pirate Cat
- Nicky Puppy
- Mama Cat's Adventures in Child Training Presents
- The World of Jacky Blue and Other Cats (The Jacky Blue Series)
- Abelard and Heloise
- Splash the Staniel Cay cat
- Ocho Loved Flowers (Annie (Stoneleigh Press))
- Kitty Heaven's in the Sky
- The tale of the lucky cat
- Mr. Putter and Tabby Hit the Slope
- Surf's Up
- Cattitude, the Coolest Cats on the Internet
- Dog Man: The Scarlet Shredder
- Trick or treat
- Zoom!
- Guess with Jess - let's explore!
- The Dunderheads
- There Are No Cats in This Book
- Is There a Dog in This Book?
- Lighthouse Keeper's Cat
- I love cats!
- I Remember Oliver
- Look What the Cat Dragged In!
- Rugrats, Pizza Cats (Rugrats)
- The great dog wash =
- Dusty
- The legend of Mistletoe and the Christmas kittens
- Mouse, look out!
- Dear Santa, I know it looks bad, but it wasn't my fault
- J'adore Aller à L'école
- Poppy the Pirate Dog and the treasure keeper
- Puppy to dog
- Friday the scaredy cat
- Boo finds a home
- Big Easter Adventure
- Cara's kindness
- Cats and Kittens
- My Cat
- Cat-Tastic Heroes to the Rescue
- CatRat's Birthday Surprise
- Kit and Kaboodle Explore the City
- Mr. McGratt and the Ornery Cat
- Runaway Rusty
- Miss Moppet
- Cat Who Barked (Learn to Read 1st Grade)
- Felix the Cat's Greatest Hits
- All Through the Week with Cat and Dog
- Pepper (Waggy Tales)
- Pretty Kitten
- Hairy Maclary's Showbusiness
- Pawprints
- Party Clothes
- Innovative Kids Readers
- Scaredy Mouse
- Painter's Cat
- Caring for Your Cat (Caring for Your Pet series)
- Little Draggin' Bear
- Little Draggin' Bear
- Nicky's Christmas Song
- My First Dog
- Birds Dont Say 'Bow-Wow.'
- Kitten's Adventure/as Aventuras Do Gatinho
- Norwegian Forest Cats (Cats Set IV)
- Cats
- Cuddly kittens
- Kitty Come Down!
- Japanese bobtail cats
- Welcome to Wagmire
- Cats
- Cuddle Buddies Cat
- Cleo the Cat
- My hand
- The magic place
- How to Pet a Cat
- Noah and Nelly (Pet Pals)
- Where's the Cat?
- Cat on the Hill
- Scaredy Cats
- Scaredy Cats
- Bluebeard's Cat
- The Killer Catflap (Scaredy Cats)
- Cats
- The Busy Busy Day
- Boswell the kitchen cat
- How To Be a Cat
- Kitten
- Kittens and Cats Know Your Pet
- Puss in Boots
- Inside Jolly Roger's Pirate Ship (Story Book)
- The Cat Flap Cats & Cat Flap Cats Choir
- Cat's ABC (Picture Books)
- Mouse, look out!
- The Lost Kitten!
- Sunshine and Storm
- Haunted House (Now I Can Read)
- Cats and Kittens (Snapshot Shaped Board Books)
- Cats and Kittens (Funfax Animal Shaped Board Books)
- Chloe's windy day
- Jim the Heavy Cat
- Maneki Neko
- Night is right for me
- Nine Naughty Kittens
- Kittydid and Tad in "A Cat Such as I" (Kittydid & Tad in)
- The Mother Cat
- Unusual Friendships
- Cat Balloon
- Where's the cat?
- The Cat who Found His Way Home
- Micia (the Multifaceted Cat)
- Furball
- Blue Moon
- Casey and the Boston Freedom Trail
- Where's Nicky's valentine?
- Thank you, Nicky!
- Nicky's Noisy Night
- Where's Nicky's Easter egg?
- The Cat's Meow
- Bayberry & Beau
- Case of the Robbed Recipe (defunct)
- Scribbles and Ink Clean up the Ocean
- Lupe en el jardin (Un Libro De Tacto)
- Aurora / Dawn
- Karen's Kittycat Club
- Cat Who Wore a Pot on Her Head
Questions parents ask about cats books
- What are the best cats books for kids?
- HootRated catalogs 452 cats children's books spanning picture books through Grade 7. Each is rated on reading level and content intensity. The picks above are sorted by quality signals — hook factor, discussion potential, and content appropriateness.
- Are cats books appropriate for sensitive readers?
- 440 books (97%) are rated Gentle or Mild — safe for sensitive readers. 0 (0%) are rated Intense or Very Intense. Average intensity is 1.2/5. Filter by intensity badge to match your child's emotional readiness.
- What reading level are cats books?
- Cats books in our catalog span picture books through Grade 7. The typical reading level lands around Grade 2. Reading level measures text difficulty — separate from content intensity, which measures emotional weight. The two often don't track together for gifted readers — the Gifted Kid Paradox.