7 Cat-Themed, LGBTQ-Inclusive Picture Books for International Cat Day

It’s International Cat Day, so I’m celebrating not only with my own cat (really, every day is Cat Day around here), but with these seven LGBTQ-inclusive picture books involving furry feline friends! (Bonus photo of my own cat included!)

Of course, these books are great any day of the year (and you can also find LGBTQ-inclusive books with other animal protagonists in my database).

Timid - Harry Woodgate

Timid, written and illustrated by Harry Woodgate (Little Bee). Timmy loves to dress up in sparkly costumes and perform—in their room. They feel far too shy to ever fulfill their dream of taking the stage to share their stories. Every time they try to talk with someone new, a giant lion appears to “ROAR their confidence away.” Timmy dreads the upcoming school play until he partners with a shy classmate and they help each other overcome their fears (and make friends with the lion). Woodgate’s prose is lovely, but it is the illustrations, expressive and colorful, that make the book really shine.

Princess Puffybottom

Princess Puffybottom . . . and Darryl, by Susin Nielsen, illustrated by Olivia Chin Mueller (Tundra Books). A pampered cat competes for attention with a new and rambunctious puppy. Just as she thinks things are back to normal, however, we find out that the two humans of the house, a two-woman couple, have been preparing for a new (human) baby.

Frank and the Bad Surprise

Frank and the Bad Surprise, by Martha Brockenbrough, illustrated by Jon Lau (Levine Querido). “Frank the cat had it good,” begins this early chapter book. Toys, Whiskies to eat, and a nice home with a window to look out. One day, however, his two humans (a two-man couple), come home with a new puppy, who disrupts Frank’s peace and quiet. Can they learn to live together? While the storyline is similar to Princess Puffybottom (and to two dog-themed books, Patience, Patches and Pickles + Ocho), Frank is delightful in and of itself.

Bathe the Cat

Bathe the Cat, by Alice B. McGinty, illustrated by David Roberts (Chronicle Books). A hilarious book with a rhythm and silliness that will make kids want to read and reread. The story opens with a two-dad, two-kid, one-cat family getting ready for Grandma’s arrival. Papa is trying to organize everyone to tidy and clean, so he makes a list with magnetic letters on the fridge, assigning tasks like “mop the floor” and “scrub the dishes.” Papa himself will “bathe the cat.” The cat doesn’t want to be bathed, however, and scrambles the list with a paw, creating tasks like “feed the floor” and “sweep the dishes.” The family tries to comply, with chaotic results. (Note that the first printing of this book has Papa exclaiming at one point, “I’ve lost my marbles,” but the publisher has told me that because of the phrase’s ableist implications, they will be changing it to “This is ridiculous” in the next printing, likely available this fall.

Federico y Sus Familias

Federico and All His Families, by Mili Hernández, illustrated by Gómez (Nubeocho). A cat wanders through the neighborhood, visiting families with two moms, two dads, one of each, a single mom, and a grandparent caregiver. A simple story to encourage understanding of family diversity. Also available in Spanish.

Ghost's Journey

Ghost’s Journey, by Robin Stevenson, illustrated by Rainer Oktovianus (Rebel Mountain Press). The true story of a same-sex couple who fled Indonesia for fear of persecution, told through the eyes of their cat, but without cutesy anthropomorphizing—a lovely way to help young people engage with the tale. Illustrations are made from photographs the couple took. This is a unique story of one family and a look at an aspect of LGBTQ lives that hasn’t yet appeared in children’s literature. It begins with fear, but ends in Pride (literally and figuratively). All of Stevenson’s royalties go to LGBTQ refugee organizations, as do partial proceeds from the publisher. The couple profiled will be donating their share of the proceeds to help animals find new homes in Canada.

Early One Morning

Early One Morning, by Lawrence Schimel, illustrated by Elina Braslina (Orca). With bouncy rhymes and bright illustrations, this board book shows a boy waking up before his moms and sister and getting breakfast with a little help from the family cat. A fun slice of life in a family that happens to have two moms. Also available in French.


This is Paprika, who has been a delightful part of our family for nine years now.

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