Feral, Vol. 2: Cat Lady

Feral #6-10

by Tony Fleecs (Writer), Trish Forstner (Illustrator), Tone Rodriguez (Illustrator)

The Walking Dead meets The AristoCats in this purrfect series for readers in search of pulse-pounding thrills from the creative team behind the bestselling Stray Dogs!

Lord is missing! Patch is infected! And just when things couldn’t get any worse, Elsie finds herself with a bunch of cats she barely knows, on the run from rabid rats, hidden traps, and whatever terror lurks in the CREEPY OLD SHACK!

Don’t miss out on this smash-hit animal horror series from the creators of STRAY DOGS!

Collects issues #6-10.

Genres: Horror, Graphic Novels, Comics, Animals, Cats, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction

136 pages, Paperback

First published March 12, 2025

About the author

Tony Fleecs is the writer and artist of In My Lifetime, an autobiographical comic book. First published in 2006, ‘Lifetime was an immediate critical success, featured twice in Wizard Magazine, in the Comic Buyer’s Guide and on the Ain’t-It-Cool-News.

Fleecs has since been a contributor to anthologies including; Postcards: True Stories that Never Happened (nominated for the 2008 Eisner and Harvey awards for best anthology), Boom Studios’ Pulp Tales and C.B. Cebulski’s Wonderlost. He and writer, Josh Fialkov, provided the Li’l FireBreather backup stories for Phil Hester’s 2nd FireBreather series at Image Comics. Last year saw his first work for hire writing work when he scripted the comic book adaptation of the classic John Holmes film, Tell Them Johnny Wadd Is Here, widely regarded as the first comic book based on a porno to not be completely awful.

This year, Tony will co-write and illustrate the graphic novel Jeff Steinberg: Champion of Earth (again with Fialkov) for Oni Press.

His company Fleecs Design (who’s talent roster includes only himself) has a client list that features Disney, 20th Century Fox, Bongo Comics, Marvel/Rittenhouse, The Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinatti Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment, The Weinstein Company, Monster Garage, Taco John’s, major hospitals, insurance providers and banks.

His comics have been published by Random House (Villard), Image Comics, Silent Devil Productions, Boom!, IDW and Terminal Press.

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

(A-) 81% | Very Good
Notes: Cult-horror theme, a change of scene, but doesn't go all-in; more eeriness than bloody mess (still grisly/grim therein).

*Progress updates: Preamble ◦ Issues #6-8 ◦ Issues #9-10

[Scott Rhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The creepiness factor skyrockets in Tony Fleecs's second volume of Feral, "Cat Lady", where an outbreak of rabies leaves a group of housecats alone in the woods, running from rabid foxes, wolves, deer, and other infected housepets. Then there's also the humans who seem to be infected, like the crazy cat lady who has a "shelter" in her cabin for all the cats she's collected. Unfortunately, she really is crazy, as she can't distinguish between uninfected and rabid cats.

Essentially "The Walking Dead" with cats, this series is so NOT for kids. If you're thinking of checking it out from the library for your little ones, be prepared for nightmares...

[Rory Wilding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picking up where the previous volume left off, the three main protagonists are separated from one another: Lord is missing, and Patch is infected. As for Elsie, she finds herself with a bunch of cats she barely knows – Gigi and her three children – on the run from rabid rats, hidden traps, and whatever terror lurks in a creepy old shack.

Please click here for my full review.

[kit · Rating 3 out of 5]

the lady was genuinely terrifying.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still on the run from the rabies-infected animals, Elsie and her friends hide out in a barn, only to be captured by a crazy cat lady, whose house, and person, is not all it appears to be.

Superb stuff, as before. The first issue is told almost entirely in first person perspective as Patch succumbs to his infection, before we follow Elsie into the Cat Lady's house for some cult-like escapades. This book never stops reminding you that it's a horror story.

The artwork really shines - the almost Disney cartoonish appearance of the cats coupled with the rabies-infected humans is such a striking difference, it makes some of the scary parts even scarier than they would have been if it was all the same style.

This book is going to make me cry before it ends, I can guarantee it.

[Kristen Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 these cats need to chill and think and stop opening all the doors.

[Emily Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rabies outbreaks and cat MCs. This volume was a lot of fun to read.

I preferred this to the first volume. The story was less repetitive here and flowed better. It feels like it’s found its feet and I can’t wait to see where the rest goes.

The art style is awesome (and pretty gore heavy.)


TWs listed below, please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.






TWs: fairly heavy gore, injury to humans and animals, animal corpses, rabies, car crash.

[Machiavelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feral Vol. 2: Cat Lady keeps the madness rolling in the best possible way. It’s still wild, still bloody, and still full of sharp tension and chaotic energy. The pacing is tight, the stakes get higher, and the vibe stays just as unhinged as Volume 1—maybe even more.

The art continues to be a standout: gritty, expressive, and perfectly matched to the story’s frantic tone. There’s a pulpy, horror-thriller edge to it all that makes it a fast and addictive read.

If you were into the first volume, this one absolutely delivers. Over-the-top in the right ways, and not slowing down anytime soon.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The old lady keeps us…” So haunting reading those four words by all the cats in the home in the woods. It was like they were in a trance. Issue 10 graphics were so shocking and frightening. Feral definitely elevates horror in its subtle scenes, dialogue, and artwork. The whole time you are rooting for the beloved cats from the first volume to survive the outbreak, and with that cliffhanger I can’t wait to read volume 3.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! It picks right up where the first volume left off and we continue to follow Elsie as the primary POV. Love the cute art style but that it's still dark and gory. I will definitely continue this series.

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second volume and be ready for the crazy cat lady of doom.


I wasn’t able to write a review for the first book, but I am (hopefully) able to write a mostly sane review for the second volume, haha. I will try at least!

The second volume and things are getting more and more dangerous for our group of cats. Things outside are bad. Rabies is spreading fast. Animals are sick. Our group of cats is trying to figure things out (especially now that there are kittens) and trying to find food in the wintery cold. There were many scary moments already but things really escalated when in a moment of hunger our group of cats fall in a trap. And end up being taken to a home.

Now I can hear you say, well, that sounds nice right? Food. More cats. More security. But nah. This home is not natural. It is one of a cat lady and there are already WAY too many cats. Not to mention that the lady is clearly coughing and having issues (which is why I immediately knew that the story would escalate at a point because we all know what is going around in the world and with all those cats (not to mention some extra cats somewhere else) I knew what was happening to the lady). We have a reunion that isn’t the easiest because our dear Elsie hasn’t been the best with communicating or at times being understanding (then again at some points I understood her). She tries, but yeah, you can’t just fix things like that.

I loved seeing how things slowly got worse and worse and THEN BOOM. Holy crap. I was already totally on the edge of my seat for most of the book but then this happens and I was just not able to stop, gasping, shocked, horrified, transfixed. I needed to know who would be safe. Who wouldn’t. Who would make it out. If anyone would make it out. At one point I was just like, I know there is more to come but this most surely be the end for our group and the next book will just have another cat.

The ending, holy heck. Holy discoballs. That was a ride and I was just shocked. Yes, this series (and so far all that I read by Tony Fleecs) is really getting under my skin. In a good way.

I also loved the bits with Patch. They were creepy, went under my skin, terrified me. But I am also intrigued. Because unlike a lot of infected Patch still seems to have some sanity somewhere hidden in him.

The art was just amazing as always. The way the infected animals are drawn. The little hints that things were wrong. The expressions. WOW. Also that cover is just terrifying as heck.

All in all, I desperately need the next book in the series. I could technically read the issues separately but I want to wait for a bundle to come out. I would HIGHLY recommend this series.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Adelaide Metzger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished 4/15/25 - This just got so terrifying!

Tony Fleecs and Trish Forstner are back to actually scaring the crap out of me in this volume with the smothering dread they perfected in Stray Dogs. And that creeping terror is once again sourced from the terrible things humans are capable of doing to animals.

It's impossible not to mention The Walking Dead as this is the same publisher of Robert Kirkman's renound series, and the Feral series is taking zombie tropes--often originating from Kirkman's stories--like 'unsettlingly nice cult/community with a dark secret' and crafting some truth into it to make it disturbing even a real eye-opener. It's if animal hoarding was a horror film. It's incredible and I highly recommend it if you're able to get through the mistreatment of animals that is often portrayed in this series.

The first volume had me eager to continue. This second volume made me hug my cats really tight and thank God that they are healthy and safe.

[Alisha (booksmellz) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume Two opens where Volume One left off: Patch is infected, Lord is missing, and Elsie is with cats she barely knows. After having to run from the safety of their abandoned barn due to rabid rats, Elsie, Gigi, and Gigi’s kittens find themselves captured by a crazy cat lady whose house is definitely high on the creepy scale.

I again loved the story of this collection and cursed the cliff hanger (one of the many reasons I wait until volume collections come out because reading as individual issues come out would be the death of me).

The art of this is still superb - childlike, but filled with horror; makes some of the scary parts even more terrifying.

Overall, this series is something I’m going to count the days down to for every volume release. This is perfect for those who love horror and aren’t afraid of some gore.

[Allison Maddox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cats.... This volume is even more terrifying than the first. Elsie and some of our other feline friends are trapped in the home of a cat hoarder, and you can feel the insanity and terror in this place. I've read/watched plenty of kidnapping stories, but seeing it from the perspective of cats was a whole new take. There are cats all over the house, the entire place is filthy (no litter boxes, they're being fed straight on the floor), you can see exits (doors/windows) RIGHT THERE, but as a cat you don't have the ability to open them, and so many of the other cats are completely chill with being there- it was like a cult-mentality. There's almost nowhere you can go that another cat hasn't already claimed in some way (aka either a spot is physically taken up by another feline, or they've peed on it). This was the stuff of nightmares.

[Abe Something · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this Disney's The Aristocats cats meets David Cronenberg's Rabid comic right after my 13yo did. She warned me it was vicious but assured me she'd be able sleep --"brace yourself" she said about two scenes. The scenes weren't as bad as I'd expected, but both leaned more into the horror stemming from the situational hopelessness that the cats are coming to terms with, rather than thrill of staying one step ahead in their survival story (the comics other main mode).

So far (issue 10), it's a brutal, but never gratuitous, story full of well-realized characters and believable group dynamics. Not for younger audiences, but they won't be scarred for life if they steal a copy when no one's looking. Who among us didn't read a Stephen King book too early?

3.5 rounded down.

[David Ackermann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rabies zombies

Don't be fooled by the cute Disney-style art, this is very much an adult horror book. But you knew that if you read the first volume.
Anyone who enjoys horror stories, or watched The Last Of Us, should give this a look. Okay, technically it's a rabies outbreak rather than a zombie outbreak, but the principle is the same: suddenly those who were friends or family or co-workers are now savage mindless killers out to get you, and if you get bit you might join them. Could you survive a zombie outbreak with no tools, no hands, not even clothing?
Masterfully written and masterfully drawn. Five stars, looking forward to reading the next volume.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

In volume two of “The Walking Dead meets The AristoCats”, Elsie is hiding out with a new mother cat and her three kittens. They are trying to stay safe while animals around them get infected when the five cats get captured. They are reunited with Lord in a home that is overrun by cats, but these cats are blind to the fact that the cat lady has become infected herself. After enduring horrors in the home, they are once again at the mercy of the wild. What next awaits these brave felines? I'll give this series one more volume, but I don't want to invest if it goes longer than that.

[Craig Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's getting even more dark and twisted then the previous 5 chapters. The gangs reunited but now they have to deal with this insane zombie cat lady that takes care of all the cats she brought there but there's a far more gruesome secret she's hiding in the kitty paradise, i wasn't really surprised by what she was hiding but horrified at it'sreveal andaftermath. I feel so sorry Elsie, Gigi, Lord and the kittens, especially the kittens. Their going through a lot in this volume. Still an amazingly suspenseful read.

[Jass · Rating 3 out of 5]

The artists found their footing with this one, taking the blend of macabre and cartoonish to the next level. Some panels just make you stop and stare at all the details too.

The plot better utilizes the "cats, not humans" gimmick of the series too, I think. However, although the protagonist has made some questionable choices before, this time she's truly reached a whole new level of "why?!?!". That was a... very frustrating plot point.

[Estibaliz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume 2 definitely ups the ante, with lots of action, and full of equally heart-wrenching and spine-tingling moments.

That first chapter with Patch was really emotional, and the Cat Lady sure was the stuff nightmares are made of, and not only for cats.

And then the volume ends with that cliffhanger that leaves you wondering where the story will go from here. Nowhere good for the kitties, that's for sure...

[Amanda Skurski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly around 2.5 stars for me. While I love the premise, I'm having a hard time getting attached to the characters when they seem to make incredibly bad decisions at every turn. Hopefully the next volume contains some character development and Elsie learns that she can't prioritize her guilt about Lord over everything else when the stakes are so high.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, this book is messed up. The Disney visuals interpreted through Night of the Living Dead. These cats are trying to escape a rabies outbreak that's mutated just in time to get captured by a crazy cat lady. This was demented but fun.

[Plague Rat · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best worst thing I’ve ever read. I’m so terrified I need to read these in the daytime. Not afraid to kill off your favorites and the ability to make even mundane tropes the most horrifying thing you’ve ever seen? This series is a winner. Can’t wait to continue.

[demi fiore · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5

I liked this one more than the first book!! It felt less ruched and the plot with the cat lady was really interesting.

I’m excited to see where the story leads too, so ill start the next one asap!!

[Kirstin Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

More horror, less heartstrings in this second book. Still a very good read!

[Mee Too · Rating 3 out of 5]

These a great little quick reads, and i find it really difficult to care about any of the characters. I mean even the cute little kittens are annoying 😂🤷🏽

3✨

[Terry Mcginnis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic stuff for fans of horror, talking animals, etc. Ready for the next!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words cannot describe how much I love these. I would give it 100 stars if it would let me.

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elsie continues to look for Lord, but the group is captured by a cat hoarder.

[Ahmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cliffhanger