The Tygrine Cat

The Tygrine Cat #1

by Inbali Iserles

Feline lovers and fantasy fans will go for this high-suspense tale of a cat with ancient powers who must save a feral clan.

Alone and lost, a young cat called Mati is struggling to be accepted by a colony of street cats in the bustling marketplace at Cressida Lock. What Mati doesn’t know is that he is the last of a vital, age-old breed and that a mysterious feline assassin named Mithos is close on his trail. With his enemy nearing, can Mati learn to harness his ancient powers — before a deadly feline force destroys both him and his newfound friends and takes the spirit of every cat on earth?

Genres: Fantasy, Animals, Cats, Fiction, Middle Grade, Adventure, Young Adult

242 pages, Hardcover

First published July 2, 2007

About the author

Inbali Iserles is a bestselling author and irrepressible animal lover. For many years she lived in central London, where a fascination with urban foxes inspired her popular Foxcraft trilogy. She is one of the team of authors behind the New York Times bestselling Survivors series, writing under the pen name Erin Hunter.

Her first book, The Tygrine Cat, won the 2008 Calderdale Children’s Book of the Year Award. Together with its sequel, The Tygrine Cat: On the Run, it was listed among The Independent’s “50 books every child should read.” Inbali attended Sussex and Cambridge Universities. She now lives in Cambridge with her family, including her principal writing mascot, Michi, who looks like an Arctic fox, acts like a cat, but is in fact a dog.

Reviews

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up at Washyarg for my niece, and I think she will love it. Young and orphaned, Mati the “catling” finds himself lost and alone in a bustling market place. Befriended by some other cats, he is soon adopted by a clan of feral cats. As Mati remembers more about his mother and his previous life, it becomes apparent that he is being pursued by something evil. Mati must draw on his mythical powers to fight the force of evil that threatens his new life and friends. Part mythology and part magic, this book will greatly appeal to fans of both the Warriors and Harry Potter series.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love a book with historical references; especially the historical fictions. But this book, combined that with a hint of "Warriors," just kept me reading into the early morning hours! Sure, the fantasy gets somewhat hardcore with magic and cats trying to take over the world, but if you read it for what it is worth, you, too, will enjoy it.

So, our main character, Mati, is sent off to London to fend for his own, not sure how he got there. Soon after, he joins a group, the Cressida Cats, and lives among them and tries to figure out his meaning in life. Soon, he discovers that he has abilities no other cat seems to have, the primary one being extremely sharp senses, but doesn't take a huge notice to it. That was Mati's mistake. Turns out, a greater power is out for him, with a thirst only quenchable with his blood. Mati has to figure out why, or else the feline community of the world as he knew it would be forever altered for the worse. He needs to figure out his bloodline, his abilities, and how to stop that force, to succeed.

Leaving out a lot of magic, that's the best summary I could think of. If you like a more of a fantastical historical fiction, give this book a serious consideration. To the "Warriors" readers, you won't feel lost reading this one. And to just everyone in general who seeks a good fantasy, you will not be disappointed by this book, I promise.

[Maddieflavor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving both cats and fantasy, I adore this book! The concept is interesting and different, and the story is good. It is one of my favorites.

[Lone Wolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mati is the young son of the Tygrine Queen, leader of a mystical group of cats with magical powers. With a spell preventing him from remembering who he truly is, he joins up with a gang of feral cats and tries to fit in. But an assassin is on his tail …

The author takes the trouble to give the cats some form of culture, with words in their own language such as “Pirrup” for a leader and “oolf” for a dog, yet she still has them using human measurements of time and distance, human place names, and so on (worst of all was addressing each other as “mister”!). I disliked this as it made them feel too human.

I found this book reasonably entertaining, but it did not grab me – at no point did I feel compelled to keep reading and see what happened next. The apparently high stakes did not really feel high, and some parts felt rushed and not properly fleshed-out. I didn’t particularly care for Mati as he didn’t have much of a personality. The only character I felt anything for was the lost pet, Jess.

This isn’t a bad read, but it isn’t a particularly good one, either. It’s average feline fantasy fare.

[Terry]

I don’t usually enjoy books where the main characters are animals, but I found this one exciting and fun to read!! Mati was a very well-developed character and I enjoyed the references to Ancient Egypt. The theme of true friendship also runs throughout the story, making it a great book to read and discuss with children.

To read our full review, go to the Reading Tub.

[Sheila Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book with strong appeal for fans of animal fantasy. Well-drawn characters and an interesting plot, with a unique link to ancient Egypt. The writing is occasionally awkward in its transitions between the cats' point of view and a more omniscient human point of view.

Click here to read my entire review

[Sparrowkeeper · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tygrine Cat was exciting and well-written by the stunning author Inbali Iserles. We follow the adventures of Mati, the destined Tygrine Cat, though he doesn't know that yet. Where he goes danger follows, and a thrilling battle for survive begins - where only Mati can save them all. It was an exciting novel that I fully recommend.

[Bunnison H · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Tygrine Cat a cat named Mati encounters a powerful clan of feral cats after attempting to stow away on a ship. I liked this book. One of my favorite parts was when they talked about house cats - but in their world, the cat owned the human!

[Shonagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am seeing all the 3 star reviews but I don't understand why no one likes this book. It was amazing. I love animals and am a fan of Foxcraft and Wariors

[Harper Cearley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warrior Cats but with MAGIC baby.

This novel intertwines the lives of feral cats with Egyptian mythology beautifully. Though the fantasy elements can be confusing- it is still a wonderful read. My main issue is the pacing, which felt slow until the last 10 or so pages. I believe some elements could've been expanded on further- like the sibling relationship of Pangur and Hanratty. It was introduced so late, and we never actually see the two brothers bonding, which meant Hanratty's death felt empty and meaningless. I believe a flashback scene- instead of just being told about their former bond- would've worked much better. but besides the pacing, it was really good overall!

[MOVED formerly stinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished this in a day! Wasn't very fall-like but it had its moments. Felt nostalgic while reading this because the author wrote a book series I read back in 5th grade and I didn't realize she wrote this book until I looked at the book that this reminded me of.
3.4 stars♥️










Hello!
This is part of my pumpkin spice and apple slice
FALL IS BACK 2023 reading project!
In other words, I read a LOT of fall-ish books!
By that, I mean mystery, coffee shops, bookstores, and MURDER!
Also if they take place in fall...

🍁Fall is back 2023🍁
#1>Legends and Lattes
#2>The Tygrine Cat

[Christine Lamoreaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author. I first fell in love with her when I read her Fox Craft series. Some people would compare her to Erin Hunter and The Warrior Cat books but in all honesty, and y'all know how much I LOVE MY WARRIOR CATS, Inbali is a much better writer. I just found out yesterday that there is a sequel to this book and I am soooooo happy, although I had to order it from the UK and it is super expensive... Anywayz... The Tygrine Cat is really good and I highly recommend it. <3

[Jennifer Watson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this cat book... The premise was unique and interesting but it didn't hold my attention the way I wanted it to. I found myself rushing through it a little bit.

Excellent choice for kids who like animal fantasy.

[Enchanted · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a nice light read, the tygrine cat is about a cat from one of the most powerful family of cats. He was abandoned when he was a kitten and has to learn to live amoung street cats and humans. this is a great book for cat lovers

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up an ARC of this in a little free library a while back. Read today as part of the Book Riot Read Harder 2024 Challenge.

It was not for me. I suspect this might be a middle school level book?

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! Was disappointed there wasn't a sequel.. but did I just spy one while typing in this book name!? Off to the Google I go!

[Roz Radmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

As good as Varjak Paw . I loved this book so much !

[Michelle Swanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good cat lovers read, pretty fast paced storyline great cat characters.
Can't wait to get book #2

[Jay Semeniuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

i need to analyze this like warrior cats 👀

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written animal fantasy from one of the authors of Survivors series. A very different looking cat appears suddenly at a busy London market place. He doesn’t remember where he comes from, only that his name is Mati and he came to London by ship from a far away land. Local cats had allowed him to stay but the newcomer is viewed with suspicion. Soon enough there is plenty of reasons for suspicion to be justified as strange and unprecedented events begin to occur with Mati seemingly in the thick of it. Little do the local cats know that ancient and powerful forces are about to enter their lives and their peaceful market place will become a battleground for the essence of the Cat’s spirit.
I like animals and I like fantasy and I really liked Inbali’s Foxcraft series but there is way too much fantasy in these books for me. It all ties up really well in the end but I do prefer a simpler world of Warrior Cats. Themes of love, friendship, loyalty and courage are the corner stones of these books. As they should be seeing that these are books for school age children. Still, I’ve enjoyed them. Apart from being a great storyteller, I think Inbali has knack for coming up with some good memorable rhymes as well. As a person who enjoys poetry this small aspect had certainly added to the overall pleasure of reading her books.

[Aelvana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mati is still a young cat when his mother sends him away, hiding him on a ship that takes him to lands far from the ones he knows. She wants to protect him from the evil about to swallow up her life. As for Mati, he finds himself in a strange new land, with cats that distrust him. He wants to be accepted among them, but he needs to learn how to live as they do. And all the while, his mother's killers are getting closer . . .

This book failed to capture me. Although I liked the premise, the execution was bland. There was the initial oddity of Mati introducing himself as having an agouti coat (which is not a word I expected to see, and it's an odd thing to have to look up). Then the cats don't feel like cats as much as people, such as having a ruling tom who is worried about the other cat's opinions of him when he supposedly killed the previous tom to become the ruler. But even as people they're off in subtle ways. Mati is rejected as long as it's convenient for the plot to reject him, and when he manages not to get killed at the end suddenly everyone loves him, even the grouchy snotty cats.

I also disliked how Mati managed more heroism when he jumped into a flooding river to save another cat than at the climax of the book. He faces down his mother's assassin with little more than a cute realization of his breed and his breed's duties. And somehow that wins. There's no sense that he earned what he got at the finish, because it felt more like he accidentally stumbled into it. The plot wasn't about him looking for his own identity, it was more about him trying to live with others. Even the realization of what he is doesn't follow up with a sense of responsibility for what he has to do (and as far as the plot is concerned, all he has to do is stay alive).

So, the focus felt muddled. Mati more or less drifts through life until someone tries to kill him, and then he wins almost by default. I never felt the stakes. I never felt, either, the essential cat-ness of the characters. All in all it wasn't a terrible book, but not one I'm likely to remember. I rate this book Neutral.

[Adair · Rating 2 out of 5]

Inbali Iserles was flicking through an encyclopaedia of cat breeds one day, and began to imagine a rivalry between feline dynasties. Relying heavily on tales of cats in ancient mythologies, The Tygrine Cat is the story of Mati, a catling sent away by his mother in order that their dynasty and the future of all cats may be preserved. He travels aboard a ship to a foreign land and is taken in by a group of feral cats who live in the marketplace. Unknown to all, Mati is being pursued by a powerful assassin. He must learn to trust himself and unleash the forces of good that reside within him.

That The Tygrine Cat is Iserles first novel is evident. The narrative is clumsy and uneven. At times the cats seem to reside in the ancient world; at others they inhabit the marketplace of any contemporary town, dodging trainers and stilletos, gulping down bagels with smears of cream cheese. The feral cats have regular town meetings (rigidly adhering to parliamentary order), lessons in cat etiquette, and even national anthems. They are as prejudiced and insulated—and as predictable—as any small town congregation. Is Iserles attempting a fable perhaps? The cats understand quite a lot about the human world, including motivation, greed, even absent-mindedness; and yet, improbably, they don’t have a concept for tinned cat food or for dogs.

While the narrative is weak over all, Iserles has more success with the plot, which pads along on four paws and luckily seems to have nine lives. The children to whom this story will most appeal are likely too young to read it on their own; unfortunately, it isn’t one that will hold the interest of the adult who must read it aloud.

[Sarah Stumphf · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even with my love of cats, this was a rough book for me, I just couldn't really get into it.

[Kim Otzelberger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being a cat lover, I snatched this book up without hesitation. It had gotten some good reviews. The story is the tale of Mati, a young, russet furred cat whose Mother sent him away to protect him from evil. On his journey, he encounters a group of feral cats, the Cressida cats, who decide to let him live amoung them. Throughout the book Mati is hunted down by Mithos, an evil cat sent out to kill him. Mati must use the three pillars and his inner light to defeat the evil forces and save the entire cat race. Pretty intense responsibilities for one little cat.
Being spoiled by the Warrior Cats series by Erin Hunter, this book had a different view of the world of cats. Not exactly what I expected, but it wasn't bad. It was an enjoyable read with twists and turns. The characters were vivid and likable. I especially liked Pungar, the Cressida cat leader and Mati. When the main character is likable, it makes the book that much more of a good read. Would I recommended this book? Yes and no. If you like cats then yes, definitely! But if you're not so big on cats, this read might not be your cup of tea.

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

For all cat people, this young adult tale is wonderful. Mystical. Fierce. Downright feral.

Our cat hero, Mati, like Moses in the bull rushes, is cast adrift by his mother the last queen of a nearly extinct race of cats that is concerned about, well . . . the greater good. Mati is pursued by Mithos, whose presence may be noticed only by a slight whiff of sulfur (hint, hint).

This delightful book just begs to be read out loud, which I caught myself doing on any number of occasions. Loved it!

[Eleeza S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an overall great book. I really enjoyed the plot and characters, and the development was great for each character. I really feel bad for the main character, and watching him learn and discover new things was happy read. You could really feel tension whenever there was a fight, and you could feel every other emotion that was meant to come through. I liked each character, and wouldn't mind reading again. I do, however, like the sequel for this book more.

[Saskia Marijke Niehorster · Rating 2 out of 5]

A curious story of an ancient lineage cat that stumbles into a territorial feline gang in a new continent. It is the story of his tribes and tribulations fitting in and belonging; with the inner workings of treachery, loyalty and perseverance reminiscent of middle school. A bit slow paced, with vocabulary that might be hard to read for some children.(242 pgs)

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

An odd book. Took me quite some time to get into it, as the started/finished dates show. It never fully sucked me in like most fiction books do, but my patience was, in the end, rewarded. Felt like a debut effort; too lazy to check if I'm right. Uneven pacing and an incredibly strange concept, but overall it somehow managed to come together enough to be enjoyable.

[Howlingmoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book because the author mixes mythology, history, facts and magic together to create an intriguing tale. I like the idea of cats owning the humans, instead of humans owning the cats. I like her style of writing because it makes me imagine that this is actually happening right now.

[Keisha Keenleyside · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a nice light read, the tygrine cat is about a cat from one of the most powerful family of cats. He was abandoned when he was a kitten and has to learn to live amoung street cats and humans. this is a great book for cat lovers