Many cozy mysteries feature cats that communicate in various ways. Both of my cozy mystery series feature cats that talk. There’s just something very possible about this, isn’t there? Let’s talk about why cats are so suitable as a talking animal in a mystery book.

Cats are mysterious and smart. 

They always seem to be watching, processing, and scheming. They are clever animals, and it’s great to be able to tap into that cleverness. 

Cats do communicate.

They let you know what they’re thinking. Why not give them a voice? 

Cats and the paranormal go together.

Cats have long been associated with magic and witches, so it makes sense that they’d be popular in any paranormal genre.

Cats are inquisitive and stealthy.

The natural personality of a cat is perfectly suited to a mystery story. They can silently observe from the shadows. How much better when they can then report to the sleuth what they’ve seen or heard?

Many people love cats.

It’s common for people to have a strong emotional bond with their pet cat. They are loved and cared for almost as much as a family member. Cat lovers enjoy getting to know felines in a more human way.

Most everyone talks to their cats.

Cats make a great sounding board. They always appear to be listening intently. They are marvelous companions that allow the character in a mystery to talk through their thoughts and speculations about the crime. 

Given a voice, cats can be witty and funny.

Cats have a ton of confidence and always seem to feel superior to the humans around them. This leads to a somewhat snarky personality style, which is common in a cozy mystery cat.

Frank from is a clever talking library cat.

The library cat from the Magical Mystery Book Club perfectly fits the role! Here’s a short excerpt:

We heard a snappy beat being tapped out by tiny nails. Zell, being enamored with drumbeats, yanked two decorative stems out of a flower arrangement and began tapping along with the beat. The door swung open and Frank, our bold and over-confident library cat, emerged. He strolled through the room as if on a runway, sauntering to the beat of Zell’s flower-stem rhythm. He ended with a twirl and a bow.

He scanned the room. “Ladies and … umm … gentleman,” he said. “Greetings, salutations, and a great, big howdy-do.”