Cats

The Guardians of Reality.

**Cats** have been the companion of humanity for millennia. It is only natural that they would come to the Neath. But only in the Neath do they speak.

## Our Feline Friends

Cats have not outwardly changed much, despite their newfound powers of speech. Like on the Surface, they tend to be vain, obtrusive and demanding (but still very cute!). Even their relationship with humans has not changed much; the two species still cohabit alongside each other. Some cats still have owners, some serve as mascots, and others get food simply by being charming.

The similarities fade here, however. Cats in the Neath are very fond of secrets. Any human who manages to catch a cat by surprise is told a secret in exchange for the cat’s freedom, with the cat's fur color determining how deep the secret will be. Naturally, cats have become an asset of many spy networks, particularly those carrying information between the Flit and Mahogany Hall.

Unfortunately, Londoners do not always treat cats with proper respect, and it has become a custom to send cats through the post to unsuspecting recipients. Despite this, human and feline societies manage to cohabit just fine - so much so that a cat was once elected Lord Mayor!

More intriguingly, each cat carries a title of nobility. Their parliament, the **Court of Cats**, periodically meets to arbitrate disputes and make important decisions. The Duchess, known for her love of cats, presides over the meetings.

All this said, cats are such mysterious creatures. Why do they appear in dreams? Why do they sometimes speak of war? And why are they so hostile toward snakes?

## The War of Illusion

Beyond this point lie **spoilers** for *Fallen London*, *Sunless Sea*, or *Sunless Skies*. This may include **midgame** content. **Proceed with caution**.
You can find out more about our spoiler policy **here**.

The Cats of the Neath have a particular hatred of Snakes. This is due to a certain war within the Lands Beyond Mirrors, Parabola. Within Parabola, the Cats fight the Fingerkings, rulers of the Is-Not, and take the form of big cats like tigers and panthers. Indeed, in the land of dreams, every cat is a big cat. However, the Court of Cats has been known to strip some cats of their dream-selves.

### Notable Cats

The Viscountess of the Viric Jungle

**UNDER CONSTRUCTION**

## References

1. ↑ Go Tell the King of Cats, *Fallen London* ’Why are the cats of London so very terrible?'
2. ↑ Try to talk to her cats , *Sunless Skies*
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Sidebar Snippets#Cats, *Fallen London*
4. ↑ Follow at a distance, *Fallen London*
5. ↑ Election 1898: The Victor is Announced, *Fallen London*
6. ↑ The Court of Cats (Story), *Fallen London* ’Even the mangiest of Spite mogs is the Knight of Somewhere-or-Other or the Lady of Somewhere-Else.’
7. ↑ The Court of Cats (Story), *Fallen London* ’"We are here to settle the division of properties in the divorce of the Viscountess of the Hanging Mountains and the Prince-Bishop of the Dome of Scales."’
8. ↑ Light Fingers: A Session of the Court of Cats, *Fallen London*
9. ↑ The Court of Cats (Story), *Fallen London* ’The Duchess presides.’
10. ↑ Step into the abyss, *Fallen London*
11. ↑ A dream about a sacrifice (A Game of Chess), *Fallen London*
12. ↑ The Navigator Promise, *Sunless Skies* ’You glimpsed a moment in Parabola, where every cat is a Big Cat’
13. ↑ Go Tell the King of Cats, *Fallen London* ’"Suffice to say, the Court felt that that cat's behaviour to his own kind was reprehensible enough to merit such a reduction of status. "'