Adopt-A-Cat Month is a good excuse to revisit the books where the cat is not just cute. The cat matters.
Some books have a cat in them. Others understand that the cat is part of the heart of the story.
If you want cat-forward fiction for Adopt-A-Cat Month, start with Reg Rawlins 1-3 and meet Starlight, or Gluten-Free Murder where Erin adopts stray kitten Orange Blossom.
Why Cat Stories?
Cat stories work because they give readers:
- warmth
- humor
- a little chaos
- a sense of home
- a reason to keep turning pages
Reg Rawlins 1-3
What the Cat Knew
The series starts with Reg, Starlight, and the kind of paranormal mystery that makes the cat part of the engine, not just the decoration.
A Psychic with Catitude
Book two keeps the psychic-cat energy front and center and gives readers more of the same Black Sands charm.
A Catastrophic Theft
By book three, the cat presence is still doing real work in the series and the stakes are deeper.
Don’t Miss Auntie Clem’s Bakery
Gluten-Free Murder
Erin adopts Orange Blossom, and the cat quickly becomes part of the emotional texture of the series.
And more
FAQs
What is Adopt-A-Cat Month?
Adopt-A-Cat Month is a good time to celebrate cats in real life—and in fiction. On this page, I am highlighting mysteries where the cats are not just background decoration. They add warmth, humor, personality, and sometimes even a little push toward solving the mystery.
Which P.D. Workman books are best for readers who love cats?
For cat-forward fiction, start with the first three Reg Rawlins books: What the Cat Knew, A Psychic with Catitude, and A Catastrophic Theft. Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with an adopted kitten should also try Gluten-Free Murder, the first Auntie Clem’s Bakery mystery.
Do I need to read the Reg Rawlins books in order?
The Reg Rawlins books are especially satisfying in order because the relationships, the magic, and Starlight’s role all grow as the series continues. What the Cat Knew is the best place to begin if you want to meet Reg and Starlight from the start.
Is Starlight just a cute sidekick?
No. Starlight is cute, of course, but she is more than a cozy mystery decoration. In the Reg Rawlins series, the cat is part of the story’s personality and paranormal charm, helping make the mysteries feel warmer, stranger, and more memorable.
Which book introduces Orange Blossom?
Orange Blossom appears in Gluten-Free Murder, where Erin adopts the stray kitten. It is a lovely entry point for readers who enjoy bakery cozies, small-town mysteries, and animal companions with heart.
Are these books cozy mysteries?
Gluten-Free Murder is a cozy culinary mystery. The Reg Rawlins books are paranormal cozy mysteries with psychic gifts, magical complications, a Florida small-town setting, and a cat who absolutely belongs in the middle of things.
Where should I go after reading these cat mysteries?
If you enjoy animal companions in cozy mysteries, you may also like Animals Belong in Cozy Mysteries and Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day.
I’m guessing that it was actually the “American Humane Society” that started Adopt a Pet Month here in the US. We don’t have an American Human Association, however much we could use one given what the times are. In either case, I loved seeing all the authors’ furbabies. Kudos to Q-tip for the extra effort to hold the ceiling up and watching that the disembodied hand doesn’t come for anyone 😛 Can’t wait to get back to volunteering at my local shelter soon.
Good catch! Thank you. I’ve had a number of reader responses with their kitty pictures as well, so I’m planning to add another gallery for them.