Best Cat-Themed Board Games for People Who Love Cats

Finding a board game that everyone will like sounds like an impossible task. Some don’t like long games, and others don’t want to deal with overly messy board games. While you can’t make everyone happy, one thing is certain – you can never go wrong with an animal-themed board game. As many lovely cat-themed video games show, cats hold a ton of power in the gaming world. Board games and tabletop games are no exception.

These “purrfect” little felines have enraptured the hearts of many humans. There are plenty of charming cat characters in video games alone. Humankind has a hard time resisting their soft mews, velvet-like fur, endless “cattitudes,” over-the-top 4 AM energy, and more. Now, they can be adored in all their glory and “clawtastic” splendor in this list of cute kitty board games.

Let’s get this cat party started and expand the pool of great tabletop games for cat people to choose from. Some of the cutest cat-themed board games await!

9

The Isle of Cats

• Number of Players: 1 – 4
• Age Recommendation: 8+
• Playtime: 60 – 90 + minutes
• Publisher: The City of Games

The Isle of Cats board game is where players are on a rescue mission to save cats on the Isle of Cats. After five rounds of transferring cats to a boat, the player with the most points wins. Players also get to find treasures, study ancient lessons, befriend some characters, and explore the island.

Those who want a little more adventure across the island will be pleased to know that this board game comes with six expansions. They include Kickstarter Pack, Kickstarter Pack 2, Boat Pack, Treasure Pack, Kittens + Beasts, and Late Arrivals. The Late Arrivals expansion also increases the max number of players from four to six.

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8

MLEM: Space Agency

• Number of Players: 2 – 5
• Age Recommendation: 8+
• Playtime: 30 – 60 minutes
• Publisher: Rebel

In case some players ever wonder what it would be like if cats took over the world and beyond, they should look no further than MLEM: Space Agency. In this game, players take on the role of feline captains as they race against each other to conquer the Milky Way all for themselves. It’s not like such a cat conquest is entirely impossible – the subtle influence of cats in Palworld is a case in point.

Unlike the bizarre travel of Maxwell across multiple realities, the gameplay of MLEM: Space Agency is rather simple with the usual space-themed tokens. The player chooses between four “catstronauts.” The game comes packed with dice rolls and luck-based game mechanics that certainly add to space kitty shenanigans.

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7

Cat-opoly

• Number of Players: 2 – 6
• Age Recommendation: 10+
• Playtime: 60 + minutes
• Publisher: Late for the Sky

While there are a multitude of Monopoly games out there to try, Cat-opoly offers a refreshing take on the good old classic. It’s like spending quality time with Nintendo Switch and cats at the same time. Featuring an increase in the number of players, the Cat-opoly board game follows a similar style of property trading.

The fun twist, however, is that instead of railroads and avenues, players collect cats and trade litter boxes for fish bones. Be careful not to fall into the water.

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6

Calico

• Number of Players: 1 – 4
• Age Recommendation: 10+
• Playtime: 30 – 45 minutes
• Publisher: AEG & Flatout Games

Cat lovers looking for something to relax and play will find Calico to be a great option. With the colorful quilt tiles and simple enough rules, it’s easy to learn how to play the Calico board game. Players make their cute quilts and collect buttons and cats. The player with the highest number of points gets a Master Quilter award.

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5

Cleocatra

• Number of Players: 2 – 4
• Age Recommendation: 10+
• Playtime: 15 + minutes
• Publisher: Chronicle Books

With cats running around the Great Pyramids, it’s up to each player to save the most cats. At first glance, that seems easy enough. Once players get the hang of the game, though, they can challenge themselves with a more advanced gameplay. From special cat powers to cat mummies and more, there’s plenty to delve into – all as you traverse the many tokens, rescuer meeples, and the tiles of the Nile.

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4

Way Too Many Cats

• Number of Players: 1 – 6
• Age Recommendation: 10+
• Playtime: 45 – 60 minutes
• Publisher: Weird Giraffe Games

Being surrounded by a clowder of cats is a dream come true for many cat lovers. Many of us fulfill this one desire by surrounding ourselves with cat games for the mobile platform. Now that dream can be a tangible reality with the Way Too Many Cats board game. Players get to manage a board game version of a cat shelter. As players strive to make each of the many cats happy, they also boost the chances of adoption for each cat.

Fulfilling every cat’s unique needs pushes players to find the “purrfect” harmony between adoptable adult kitties. At the same time, you will be hard-pressed to avoid hoards of kittens. With that said, may the best cat wrangler win!

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3

Exploding Kittens

• Number of Players: 2 – 5
• Age Recommendation: 7+
• Playtime: 15 + minutes
• Publisher: Exploding Kittens LLC

As it says right on the box, Exploding Kittens is a bombastic card game inspired by the rules of the notorious Russian roulette. Players take turns drawing cards, and the first one to draw an exploding kitty is kicked from the game. The cards keep getting drawn until only one player remains.

No doubt, some players might need more action than what the original version of Exploding Kittens has to offer. Luckily, this fun card game comes with seven core game variations and three expansion card packs. Players can try their hand at fending off zombie cats or opt for the “Not Safe for Work” route. Either way, with Exploding Kittens, there’s endless fun full of explosions, laser beams, zombies, and more.

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The NSFW Edition of the Exploding Kittens core game is meant for mature audiences only.

2

Bad Kitty

• Number of Players: 3 or more
• Age Recommendation: 17+
• Playtime: 30 + minutes
• Publisher: Dyce LLC

This one’s a gem for adult players only. Bad Kitty is a cat-themed game that has an interesting way of mixing memes, cats, and spicy innuendos – all in one fun card game. Think Cards Against Humanity crossed with cute kitty images that will melt the hearts of even dog lovers. Then add loads of double entendres, and that’s Bad Kitty. It’s one naughty party game that will make any cat the life of the party.

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Bad Kitty is a party game meant for adult audiences only, ages 18 and up, as well as adults with a wild, dark, and even a little vulgar sense of humor.

1

Pack the Essentials

• Number of Players: 1 – 4
• Age Recommendation: 12+
• Playtime: 20 – 30 minutes
• Publisher: Wacky Wizard Games

Packing for a trip can get pretty boring. For cat lovers, it can turn into a funny experience, though, when kitties lay claim on their bags for that sweet nap. Pack the Essentials is a travel-friendly board game that makes filling a suitcase entertaining. It also works a charm in case you want more hilarity on top of some fun mini board games on a family trip.

With Tetris-like gameplay, players try to pack their own little suitcase-shaped board full of to-do-list items and cats. The player who manages to stuff their suitcase with the most feline companions and items wins. Like some board games that work well for solo players, Pack the Essentials is also great if you just want a fun cat-themed puzzle for some alone time.

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