A whimsical collection of humorous, lyrical poems that portray a parade of eccentric feline personalities—vain, mysterious, mischievous and wise—each poem a vivid character sketch filled with playful language and clever rhyme; recurring figures such as the enigmatic criminal Macavity, the magical Mr. Mistoffelees and the kindly Old Deuteronomy anchor a cast of Jellicle cats whose nocturnal rituals and peculiar habits are celebrated with affectionate satire and imagination. The poems read like charming vignettes that delight both children and adults, and several of them later provided the basis for a popular stage musical.