The Cat Who...
Books in Order.
Start here
The Cat Who Could Read Backwards (1966)
Start with The Cat Who Could Read Backwards (1966) and read in publication order.
Start with The Cat Who Could Read Backwards (1966) and read in publication order. The series has 29 novels; Lilian Jackson Braun wrote the first three in 1966-1968 and returned to it with The Cat Who Saw Red in 1986.
The complete reading order for the The Cat Who... series by Lilian Jackson Braun. Below you'll find the authoritative guide on how to read the books in order, including publication dates and chronological timeline placements.
Where to start
Start with The Cat Who Could Read Backwards (1966) and read in publication order. The series has 29 novels; Lilian Jackson Braun wrote the first three in 1966-1968 and returned to it with The Cat Who Saw Red in 1986.
- •The Cat Who Smelled Smoke was announced as a 30th novel but was never published, so The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers (2007) is the last book.
- •Short and Tall Tales (2002) and The Private Life of the Cat Who... (2003) are optional companion collections; read the novels first. The Cat Who Had 14 Tales (1988) is left out because it is a separate collection of stories without the series characters.
At a Glance
- First Book:The Cat Who Could Read Backwards
- Latest Book:The Private Life of the Cat Who...
- Timeline:1966 - 2003
Prefer Listening?
Best if you commuteGet the professional narration of "The Cat Who Could Read Backwards" free with an Audible trial.
Try Audible →Own the Physical Copy
Best value optionAdd "The Cat Who Could Read Backwards" to your library in print or Kindle.
View on Amazon →Frequently Asked Questions
What order should I read The Cat Who... in?
Start with The Cat Who Could Read Backwards (1966) and read in publication order. The series has 29 novels; Lilian Jackson Braun wrote the first three in 1966-1968 and returned to it with The Cat Who Saw Red in 1986.
How many books are in The Cat Who...?
29 main books, published 1966–2007, plus 2 side stories.
Can I read The Cat Who... out of order?
It's best not to. The books build on each other, so reading out of order spoils earlier twists.
Which books in The Cat Who... are prequels, novellas or side stories?
"Short and Tall Tales: Moose County Legends Collected by James Mackintosh Qwilleran", "The Private Life of the Cat Who...". Each is placed in the reading order below.