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Cats Rule the Earth Tarot: 78-Card Deck and Guidebook for the Feline-Obsessed
This 78-card tarot deck and guidebook is cat themed, combining ancient mysticism from tarot reader and writer Catherine Davidson with feline illustrations by Thiago Corrêa.
This tarot deck and guidebook set is ideal for anyone seeking the knowledge and skills needed to learn the ancient art of tarot. Offering a fun clever take on the usual tarot deck, Cats Rule the Earth Tarot creatively reinvents the traditional cards with modern, quirky cat illustrations.
Cats Rule the Earth Tarot goes deeper than simply presenting the meaning of each card—it equips the reader with a historical understanding of tarot, how to interpret and apply each card drawn, and methods of conducting readings for yourself, friends, or family. From welcoming new beginnings with the Ace of Cups to facing a new guiding presence in your life with the Hierophant, each card you draw holds the power to reveal hidden truths and guide you through the unexpected events of daily life.
This tarot deck and guidebook set is ideal for anyone seeking the knowledge and skills needed to learn the ancient art of tarot. Offering a fun clever take on the usual tarot deck, Cats Rule the Earth Tarot creatively reinvents the traditional cards with modern, quirky cat illustrations.
Cats Rule the Earth Tarot goes deeper than simply presenting the meaning of each card—it equips the reader with a historical understanding of tarot, how to interpret and apply each card drawn, and methods of conducting readings for yourself, friends, or family. From welcoming new beginnings with the Ace of Cups to facing a new guiding presence in your life with the Hierophant, each card you draw holds the power to reveal hidden truths and guide you through the unexpected events of daily life.
- GenresTarotSpirituality
160 pages, Hardcover
Published September 20, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 12, 2025
3 stars just for the art.
January 13, 2024
Short book about the deck, but included a brief history of cats and tarot
September 28, 2022
Y'all, I love Tarot so much, I write games using the cards as inspiration. I was thus utterly delighted when offered the chance to review this set of Tarot cards, that adapts the classic Rider-Waite imagery to feature adorable cats of all breeds and colors.
And wow, did this set absolutely exceed my expectations! It comes in a gorgeous, sturdy presentation box that swings opens smoothly and closes tightly, with an A5-ish-sized guidebook inside resting over top of the deck itself. The guidebook is honestly fantastic. It briefly covers the historic connection between cats and the mystical before delving into the Tarot, using clear language that's great for newcomers to cartomancy while also including material that will pique the interest of long-time collectors and card readers. For example, this was the first place I can recall ever encountering the Cat's Paw divination spread, which I thought very well-suited to this deck. I even tried out a sample query using it, which I haven't included here because y'all, it got real personal real fast for being only five cards.
The guidebook also included really smart exercises for interpreting card groupings. I particularly liked the idea of studying the cards in groups by number. The book was also more luxe than the usual guidebooks that come with Tarot decks, including illustrations of each card with their possible interpretations. This makes for really handy studying when you don't have space to pull up a deck proper but still want to develop your reading skills, especially in relation to these particular cards.
The illustrations are, for the most part, charming and sure to appeal to cat lovers. My favorite cards are the ones that combine humor with aptness: the Four Of Cups, for example, a card that generally indicates stagnation and boredom, features a cat deliberately knocking over a chalice with a look all too familiar to cat owners, the "what are you going to do about it, parent?" expression. And that's an excellent interpretation of this card, with the cat challenging the reader to do something about that weird state of frustration that sometimes descends in a time of plenty. I was also enchanted by The Hanged Man, which features a cat tangled upside down in yarn. More of my favorite selections are featured at The Frumious Consortium where this review originally ran -- I especially loved the spooky season appropriateness of the Six Of Pentacles, a card of communal generosity, which in this deck features a cat in a witch's hat standing by a jack o'lantern filled with coins.
My only critique of this set is in regard to the nature of the physical deck itself. The cards themselves are fine, if not quite as luxe-feeling in the hand as I'd usually expect. Given that the entire set comes in at under USD30, that's hard to mind, tho! What does bug me a little is the fact that not all of the illustrations are set correctly in the card faces. One of the troubles with having rectangular-framed images in cards with rounded edges is that it's really noticeable when the images are offset, as happens on some but not all of the cards here. I honestly don't have the most critical eye for design, so the fact that this was noticeable even to me really raised an eyebrow. It's not something I minded overall, but it does seem a little weird that a product this nice should get sloppy in centering the images on its cards.
Overall, I think that this is an excellent set both for collectors and for people new to Tarot, but especially for cat-lovers with an interest in the art of divination, regardless of level of familiarity. It makes a perfect Halloween or Christmas or anytime gift for any of your loved ones (yourself included!)
Cats Rule The Earth Tarot: 78-Card Deck And Guidebook For The Feline-Obsessed by Catherine Davidson & Thiago Corrêa was published September 20 2022 by Abrams Image and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
And wow, did this set absolutely exceed my expectations! It comes in a gorgeous, sturdy presentation box that swings opens smoothly and closes tightly, with an A5-ish-sized guidebook inside resting over top of the deck itself. The guidebook is honestly fantastic. It briefly covers the historic connection between cats and the mystical before delving into the Tarot, using clear language that's great for newcomers to cartomancy while also including material that will pique the interest of long-time collectors and card readers. For example, this was the first place I can recall ever encountering the Cat's Paw divination spread, which I thought very well-suited to this deck. I even tried out a sample query using it, which I haven't included here because y'all, it got real personal real fast for being only five cards.
The guidebook also included really smart exercises for interpreting card groupings. I particularly liked the idea of studying the cards in groups by number. The book was also more luxe than the usual guidebooks that come with Tarot decks, including illustrations of each card with their possible interpretations. This makes for really handy studying when you don't have space to pull up a deck proper but still want to develop your reading skills, especially in relation to these particular cards.
The illustrations are, for the most part, charming and sure to appeal to cat lovers. My favorite cards are the ones that combine humor with aptness: the Four Of Cups, for example, a card that generally indicates stagnation and boredom, features a cat deliberately knocking over a chalice with a look all too familiar to cat owners, the "what are you going to do about it, parent?" expression. And that's an excellent interpretation of this card, with the cat challenging the reader to do something about that weird state of frustration that sometimes descends in a time of plenty. I was also enchanted by The Hanged Man, which features a cat tangled upside down in yarn. More of my favorite selections are featured at The Frumious Consortium where this review originally ran -- I especially loved the spooky season appropriateness of the Six Of Pentacles, a card of communal generosity, which in this deck features a cat in a witch's hat standing by a jack o'lantern filled with coins.
My only critique of this set is in regard to the nature of the physical deck itself. The cards themselves are fine, if not quite as luxe-feeling in the hand as I'd usually expect. Given that the entire set comes in at under USD30, that's hard to mind, tho! What does bug me a little is the fact that not all of the illustrations are set correctly in the card faces. One of the troubles with having rectangular-framed images in cards with rounded edges is that it's really noticeable when the images are offset, as happens on some but not all of the cards here. I honestly don't have the most critical eye for design, so the fact that this was noticeable even to me really raised an eyebrow. It's not something I minded overall, but it does seem a little weird that a product this nice should get sloppy in centering the images on its cards.
Overall, I think that this is an excellent set both for collectors and for people new to Tarot, but especially for cat-lovers with an interest in the art of divination, regardless of level of familiarity. It makes a perfect Halloween or Christmas or anytime gift for any of your loved ones (yourself included!)
Cats Rule The Earth Tarot: 78-Card Deck And Guidebook For The Feline-Obsessed by Catherine Davidson & Thiago Corrêa was published September 20 2022 by Abrams Image and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
November 16, 2022
Cards are large and hard to shuffle but otherwise an awesome deck and book
January 23, 2023
Este es otro tarot de excelente y detallado acabado. Con libro grande y mazo completo de cartas; todo ello dentro de una edición de cartón duro (que incluso huele a ese cartón de los tiempos de antaño).
Las cartas han sido dibujadas pensando en los años 20, destilan esa elegancia, sobriedad y suavidad, tanto en sus colores como en sus líneas. De corte figurativo y comunicativo, sus felinos son radiantes y carismáticos, de mirada alegre y expresiva. Transmite con precisión su mensaje todo el conjunto de cada carta.
Otro tanto le pasa a su manual. Es de los menos engorrosos que he leído, y, sin embargo, de los más prácticos y completos. Sintetizan palabras clave por arcano, lectura derecha e inversa sin equivocación. En su previo, incluso introduce la numerología y su simbolismo, recoge unas cuantas tiradas conocidas, y da interesantes consejos para practicar con la baraja.
Un tarot notable, que dice mucho más de lo que su simple apariencia deja entrever. Bonito, practico y completo.
Las cartas han sido dibujadas pensando en los años 20, destilan esa elegancia, sobriedad y suavidad, tanto en sus colores como en sus líneas. De corte figurativo y comunicativo, sus felinos son radiantes y carismáticos, de mirada alegre y expresiva. Transmite con precisión su mensaje todo el conjunto de cada carta.
Otro tanto le pasa a su manual. Es de los menos engorrosos que he leído, y, sin embargo, de los más prácticos y completos. Sintetizan palabras clave por arcano, lectura derecha e inversa sin equivocación. En su previo, incluso introduce la numerología y su simbolismo, recoge unas cuantas tiradas conocidas, y da interesantes consejos para practicar con la baraja.
Un tarot notable, que dice mucho más de lo que su simple apariencia deja entrever. Bonito, practico y completo.
March 26, 2026
Tarot Deck Review: Cats Rule the Earth Tarot by Catherine Davidson (author) and Thiago Correa (illustrator)
Publisher: Abrams and Chronicle Books
Release Date: 29th September, 2022
About the Creators
Catherine Davidson has been reading tarot for twenty years, and believes that it is a tool that anyone can use to enhance their intuition and shape their future. Catherine has written on a range of spiritual practices including: meditation, mindfulness and dreamwork.
Thiago Correa is a Brazilian artist and illustrator. Recurring themes in his work include; magic, dreams, and emotions. Thiago’s designs and illustrations feature on art prints, accessories and homewares. This also includes the stunning illustrations from the cards in this deck!
About the Deck
“Nurture your divine feline wisdom through the ancient art of tarot with this cat-themed deck and illuminating guidebook.
Our relationship with cats as creatures-companions, and the myriad ways they express themselves – beautifully realised in this deck – grant these cards a mystical harmony. This deck will help you to explore the magic of the tarot.
Detailed explanations, guiding keywords, and reversed meanings are provided for each card!
The set includes an 80-page illustrated guidebook and 78 tarot cards, presented in a keep-forever box.”
My Thoughts
Before using the deck, I started by working through the guidebook. It is very beginner friendly. If you are new to tarot, and choose this deck to learn with, then the guidebook has everything a beginner will need to get started. From understanding the major and minor arcana, developing a practice and using your intuition to doing a full reading. I wouldn’t say the guidebook offers anything new, in terms of beginner advice, however all the important information is there, and is delivered in a straight forward and pragmatic way.
Similarly, when is comes to the spreads featured, they are what I’ve come to expect from all tarot books. It covers the one card pull, a three card spread and the Celtic Cross. All of which regular tarot readers will be familiar with. They are, what I consider, the foundation of tarot. However, there was another spread featured that was specific to the theme of this deck, The Cat’s Paw. I love it when a creator offers spreads that play on the theme of the deck. This one was a five card spread and, obviously, it was shaped like a cat’s paw. Purrfect!
Something else I personally appreciated in the guidebook was a small section about cats. It looked at their links to spirituality, divination and tarot throughout history. It was brief, but I enjoyed the context it provided for the deck.
Obviously, I didn’t read the whole guidebook, and I would advise others that it is not necessary. Don’t feel like you need to read through each meaning the creator has attributed to the individual cards before you even do a reading. I prefer to consult the guidebook, as necessary, during a reading. Therefore, to get an overall feel for the deck and the information provided for the cards I conducted a reading for myself.
I found that the information and guidance for the cards was short, yet was enough to conduct a thorough reading. I found I had to break down the information and, would recommend taking it sentence by sentence to explore what it means for you and the question you asked. This may be tricky for beginners at first, but it would be the same with any guidebook provided with a tarot deck.
Moving on to the deck itself…What can I say about the illustrations other than I love them? As a cat lover what’s not to love? The black and gold card backs, along with the cat skulls, offer a cute gothic touch. The cards have a matte finish which suits the overall vibe and artistic style of the deck.
As with a lot of tarot decks, the illustrations take inspiration from the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck but, with Cats! As well as the images there are some other similarities to the RWS deck, such as the colour palette. Although it is not exactly the same it still features familiar red, yellow, blue and brown.
Personally, I prefer the Cats Rule the Earth Tarot deck to the Rider-Waite-Smith. Although I appreciate the classic, traditional nature of the RWS deck, and Pamela Colman-Smith’s designs, I prefer decks that don’t feature people. Cards that feature more symbolic designs or those featuring animals tend to resonate more with me. To have a whole deck of cats makes my heart happy! Similarly, a more contemporary art style, like the one Thiago has taken with this deck, is my preference.
In terms of negatives I have one teeny tiny thing, and it’s the same thing I say a lot about the ‘big box’ decks. I just wish there was a smaller box! I don’t mind the big box and love how well designed they are. It also means that the guidebook can be on the larger side, rather than those little fiddly ones. However, I like to keep my tarot cards in a small box or pouch for safe keeping, easy access (as I usually have them out on my desk or altar) and to transport in my bag. The box provided with the deck is far too big for that. I would prefer it if the decks in larger boxes came with a smaller one, or a pouch, just for the cards.
Overall, I found the reading I did for myself to be useful. It felt well balanced; there were some uncomfortable truths that I needed to acknowledge but it still remained a positive reading and experience. I was able to explore my question and situation easily through the points given in the guidebook.
I love this deck and see it becoming my daily deck, or at least in regular rotation for my tarot readings. Basically, if you love tarot and you love cats, you will love this deck!
[Deck was gifted by the publisher, Abrams and Chronicle Books, in exchange for a review.]
Publisher: Abrams and Chronicle Books
Release Date: 29th September, 2022
About the Creators
Catherine Davidson has been reading tarot for twenty years, and believes that it is a tool that anyone can use to enhance their intuition and shape their future. Catherine has written on a range of spiritual practices including: meditation, mindfulness and dreamwork.
Thiago Correa is a Brazilian artist and illustrator. Recurring themes in his work include; magic, dreams, and emotions. Thiago’s designs and illustrations feature on art prints, accessories and homewares. This also includes the stunning illustrations from the cards in this deck!
About the Deck
“Nurture your divine feline wisdom through the ancient art of tarot with this cat-themed deck and illuminating guidebook.
Our relationship with cats as creatures-companions, and the myriad ways they express themselves – beautifully realised in this deck – grant these cards a mystical harmony. This deck will help you to explore the magic of the tarot.
Detailed explanations, guiding keywords, and reversed meanings are provided for each card!
The set includes an 80-page illustrated guidebook and 78 tarot cards, presented in a keep-forever box.”
My Thoughts
Before using the deck, I started by working through the guidebook. It is very beginner friendly. If you are new to tarot, and choose this deck to learn with, then the guidebook has everything a beginner will need to get started. From understanding the major and minor arcana, developing a practice and using your intuition to doing a full reading. I wouldn’t say the guidebook offers anything new, in terms of beginner advice, however all the important information is there, and is delivered in a straight forward and pragmatic way.
Similarly, when is comes to the spreads featured, they are what I’ve come to expect from all tarot books. It covers the one card pull, a three card spread and the Celtic Cross. All of which regular tarot readers will be familiar with. They are, what I consider, the foundation of tarot. However, there was another spread featured that was specific to the theme of this deck, The Cat’s Paw. I love it when a creator offers spreads that play on the theme of the deck. This one was a five card spread and, obviously, it was shaped like a cat’s paw. Purrfect!
Something else I personally appreciated in the guidebook was a small section about cats. It looked at their links to spirituality, divination and tarot throughout history. It was brief, but I enjoyed the context it provided for the deck.
Obviously, I didn’t read the whole guidebook, and I would advise others that it is not necessary. Don’t feel like you need to read through each meaning the creator has attributed to the individual cards before you even do a reading. I prefer to consult the guidebook, as necessary, during a reading. Therefore, to get an overall feel for the deck and the information provided for the cards I conducted a reading for myself.
I found that the information and guidance for the cards was short, yet was enough to conduct a thorough reading. I found I had to break down the information and, would recommend taking it sentence by sentence to explore what it means for you and the question you asked. This may be tricky for beginners at first, but it would be the same with any guidebook provided with a tarot deck.
Moving on to the deck itself…What can I say about the illustrations other than I love them? As a cat lover what’s not to love? The black and gold card backs, along with the cat skulls, offer a cute gothic touch. The cards have a matte finish which suits the overall vibe and artistic style of the deck.
As with a lot of tarot decks, the illustrations take inspiration from the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck but, with Cats! As well as the images there are some other similarities to the RWS deck, such as the colour palette. Although it is not exactly the same it still features familiar red, yellow, blue and brown.
Personally, I prefer the Cats Rule the Earth Tarot deck to the Rider-Waite-Smith. Although I appreciate the classic, traditional nature of the RWS deck, and Pamela Colman-Smith’s designs, I prefer decks that don’t feature people. Cards that feature more symbolic designs or those featuring animals tend to resonate more with me. To have a whole deck of cats makes my heart happy! Similarly, a more contemporary art style, like the one Thiago has taken with this deck, is my preference.
In terms of negatives I have one teeny tiny thing, and it’s the same thing I say a lot about the ‘big box’ decks. I just wish there was a smaller box! I don’t mind the big box and love how well designed they are. It also means that the guidebook can be on the larger side, rather than those little fiddly ones. However, I like to keep my tarot cards in a small box or pouch for safe keeping, easy access (as I usually have them out on my desk or altar) and to transport in my bag. The box provided with the deck is far too big for that. I would prefer it if the decks in larger boxes came with a smaller one, or a pouch, just for the cards.
Overall, I found the reading I did for myself to be useful. It felt well balanced; there were some uncomfortable truths that I needed to acknowledge but it still remained a positive reading and experience. I was able to explore my question and situation easily through the points given in the guidebook.
I love this deck and see it becoming my daily deck, or at least in regular rotation for my tarot readings. Basically, if you love tarot and you love cats, you will love this deck!
[Deck was gifted by the publisher, Abrams and Chronicle Books, in exchange for a review.]
July 22, 2025
DOVEROSA PREMESSA: amo tanto i gatti quanto i cani (e amo in generale gli animali, con pochissime eccezioni).
Trattasi un mazzo felino illustrato da Thiago Corrêa basato sui celeberrimi RWS, con (almeno per quanto mi riguarda) l’inspiegabile scelta di adottare colori spenti. Il libretto di accompagnamento, scritto da Catherine Davidson, è discreto nel complesso; ciò che fa specie, in senso positivo, è l’appropriatezza delle spiegazioni delle carte al rovescio: per quanto sintetiche, sono quanto mai azzeccate e, nella loro brevità, ben più utili di quanto si trova più estesamente altrove.
Trattasi un mazzo felino illustrato da Thiago Corrêa basato sui celeberrimi RWS, con (almeno per quanto mi riguarda) l’inspiegabile scelta di adottare colori spenti. Il libretto di accompagnamento, scritto da Catherine Davidson, è discreto nel complesso; ciò che fa specie, in senso positivo, è l’appropriatezza delle spiegazioni delle carte al rovescio: per quanto sintetiche, sono quanto mai azzeccate e, nella loro brevità, ben più utili di quanto si trova più estesamente altrove.
December 29, 2024
Perfect, cats + tarot ♥️
January 29, 2025
So many beautiful meows I love them all
July 22, 2025
10/10 jag kan spå folks framtid
November 27, 2025
Beautiful.
November 2, 2024
เป็นหนังสือที่แถมมากับไพ่ หรืออาจเรียกอีกอย่างหนึ่งว่าเป็นไพ่ที่แถมหนังสือก็ได้
ตัวไพ่เป็นกระดาษไม่ค่อยดีนัก เรียกว่าอยู่ในระดับปานกลางพ่อใช้ได้
ส่วนหนังสือดี เล่มไม่ใหญ่ไม่หนามาก แต่ด้านในเป็นกระกาษสีทั้งเล่ม บอกความหมายไพ่แบบสั้นๆ
ตัวไพ่เป็นกระดาษไม่ค่อยดีนัก เรียกว่าอยู่ในระดับปานกลางพ่อใช้ได้
ส่วนหนังสือดี เล่มไม่ใหญ่ไม่หนามาก แต่ด้านในเป็นกระกาษสีทั้งเล่ม บอกความหมายไพ่แบบสั้นๆ
December 12, 2025
Fantastic, love it. But where are the ginger cats? Wish there was a ginger cat like mine! I really enjoy this tarot deck and the guidebook I really admire. It’s simple but also deep. Great for beginners but also a new way to look at the cards for those with more experience. I find myself referencing the Cats Rule the Earth guidebook for perspective even when I am using a Rider Waite Smith deck. Highly recommend this cat themed tarot!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews