The Game of the Month series highlights one of the many games in our libraries at Ravenwood Castle and the Malted Meeple. We will briefly describe the game, how to play it, and why we like it. The Game of the Month is written by the Meeple’s Head Game Master – and former Ravenwood Innkeeper – Karington Hess.

There is a major cat problem in your neighborhood: the cats are all looking for a place to call home. You don’t just want those loveable felines in your house, you NEED them! But what can you do to make your house the cat’s-meow and entice those adorable kitties into your yard, onto your porch, and into your home? You know your other neighbors are just as obsessed with cats as you. It will take all of your wits, luck, and no small amount of catnip to come out on top! Prepare for a “Claw-some” game of competitive Cat-Collecting with Here, Kitty, Kitty! from our friends at Fireside Games!

In Here, Kitty, Kitty!, players must struggle against their neighbors to collect as many lovable felines as possible. They will score points for each cat on their porch, but more points for each cat in their house, with the winner being crowned the Craziest Cat Collector in the neighborhood!

To set up a game of Here, Kitty, Kitty!, each player chooses a property card and places it in front of them. All forty cats (ten of each color) are placed in the center of the table to represent the wandering herds of cats. All of the instant-effect cards are removed from the game, and players are dealt a number of cards dependent on the number of players. Two cards for two or six players, and three cards for three, four, or five players. Then the instant-effect cards are shuffled back into the deck.

On a player’s turn they perform two of the following three actions before passing to the next player. The first action a player may take is to move one cat from the Neighborhood to their Yard, from the Yard to their Porch, or from the Porch to their House. The second action is to play one card from their hand. Some cards are resolved and then discarded, while other cards have a lasting effect on the game. The third action is to discard any number of their cards. After performing two actions, a player draws back up to their maximum hand size, resolves any instant-effect cards, and then passes the turn. When the deck becomes exhausted, the game ends and final scoring begins. Players gain points for each cat in their house and on their porch, for having a variety of cats, for having the most of one color of cat, and may gain a bonus for having only one color of cat in their house. Whoever has the most points at the end of the game is crowned the Craziest Cat Collector in the neighborhood and wins the game!

So stop in throughout May and enjoy a light, fun, “meowsome” game of Here, Kitty, Kitty! Be sure to ask your Game Master about the Milkshake promo card, inspired by the milkshake creations of our friends at the Malted Meeple. Just like their shakes, the Milkshake promo card brings ALL the cats to your yard!

Jim Reed

Jim Reed is a lifelong gamer who started with the original red box Dungeons & Dragons. After spending 20 years in the corporate world, he decided it was high time that work be fun and struck out on his own. Jim now owns and operates Ravenwood Castle, and spends his days ensuring his guests have as much fun as he does.