I started this fic recs page some years ago, when I thought the idea was the most original in the world :) I've since learned that of course it isn't... but the fact remains there are very few (any??) CATS fanfic rec pages! Thus, I present my favourites, collected over, um, years! This is not to say these are the only good fics out there or... well, it's not saying anything but these are some of my favourite CATS fanfics :) Out of the ones I found, and ones I've found when I remember to update the list anyway ~ BUT! Still. Lots of good fics here loved dearly by me. I really should read more recent fic and get this decently updated though...
I will generally only rec fics when they're finished, although there is the odd exception for abandoned fics that are nevertheless worth the read.
Please please alert me of any broken links!!
Very unfortunately, some of these favourites of mine can no longer be found anywhere on the internet, at least to my knowledge. I will keep searching, and if I really can't find them anywhere or contact the author, I may host them here if I've downloaded them... because it's v. sad if new CATS fans never get the chance to read them! (Also if anyone knows anywhere they can still be found...? TELL ME.)
Finally, these fics are mostly in addition to fanfic section of this site, as that is increasingly functioning as a place for me to get my favourite fics to. Some fics here therefore are older ones, or in other cases where I can't contact the author and ask to post the fic. ...and some are just highlighting fics that are on this site XD
~
Recs alphabetically by author...
...I would highly suggest checking out anything else any of the authors have written too. I'm just picking a couple to get you started.
No Reprise by Becky. Cori on Tanto and what went so horribly wrong... *just... flails at the beauty of the theatre metaphors* Beautiful, beautiful, so painful.
Truly by Becky. Becky does romance. Very well indeed. ^____^ This is so much sweeter in the end, but it's not at all simple. Again, it's the details that get you.
Never Once More by Chibi Teazer. Another short, sad piece; achingly beautiful... CT is one who's come absolutely miles in CATSfic.
The Jellicle Tennis Team by Chibi Teazer. There is no way I could let the hyper side of CT go unrepresented. She has so many original ideas -- one of them was, for some reason, to get the Jellicles to play tennis (!?) on the TV show she's acquired. Much amusement is had by all, except probably most of the cast XD
The Jellicle Parody by Cinderkitty. A wonderful piece of absolute stupidity involving all the Jellicles and a good few guest stars: very very funny.
The True Alumnus of Hell by Daniel. Daniel is one of the authors who really convinced me to take another good long look at Macavity. Here, the many facets of his complex personality and broken life are beautifully explored. ...the more minor characters *cough*MUNGOJERRIE*cough* are also brilliant :)
Macavity: Owner's Guide and Maintenance Manual by Demigold. ......this is exactly what it says it is. It is also so totally hilarious that you may not be able to breathe for several minutes after reading.
Mistoffelees: Owner's Guide and Maintenance Manual by Demigold. EEEEE THERE IS MORE.
Within Age by Exotica. This is one of the most warm-fuzzy-inducing fics ever. It's just totally adorable; a little silly, a little romantic...
Final Curtain Call by EndlessMasquerading. Gus thinks back... This short piece has the most fantastic atmosphere and makes me feel rather fuzzy inside :)
Jemetc's poetry - is wonderful. It.. just flows so very naturally and gets right to the heart of the characters, light and dark and beautiful.
It's The Thought That Counts by Jessica R. Vance. Mungo tries to
write Teazer a love letter. One of the most funny and adorable
bits of fluff ever :)
Um, and randomly, if anyone appreciates Les Mis, I would also
like to point you to her The
Bus To Paris in which, uh, Javert takes a bus to Paris! I
don't think it needs more explanation... at least, I refuse to
give it. Read. Oh - and there's a sequel XD
Scars of a Tightrope Walker by Julianna. Quite apart from my incurable Mungo&Teazer bias, this is a great first(!!) fic that will have you hooked. The premise is familiar, but Juli pulls it off with style.
Poems by Lina. Lina's poems written at the outset of fandom are just something else. Hilarious and adorable, sometimes they seem like something out of AA Milne or Lewis Carrol or someone!
Little Rock by Mandy of the Amoeba. This is a beautiful short piece from Jenny's point of view. Bittersweet, and not something you see a lot... gah, I fail at describing, just read it.Silver, Gold and Ruby by Megera. 10 chapters, one year in the life of the tribe; Meg writes her take on the classic Mac/Dem/Munku mess and makes it work. Classic.
In the City by Megera - The now-famous story of he cats as anthrofeline-type-things living among humans. Meg, of course, has managed this difficult premise beautifully. The transfer to human lives is brilliant and the plot is truly intriguing...
Just Another Abduction? by Merete/Purnilla. Hilarious little tale of a misguided attempt to write the Mac/Dem/Munk story... The first CATS-author parody thing I ever read, and it remains one of the best. **ack! this story appears to be no longer online though...**
Macavity and the Wrong Hostage by Merete/Purnilla. What if Macavity kidnapped -- Jennyanydots? Well, this, my dears, is what would happen!
Harry Potter and the Heir of Jellicle/The Silver Jaguar Mistybom. (The title appears to vary depending on the site!) Now, don't run away fleeing just yet. Yes, it's an HP/CATS crossover. But apart from maybe "Harry Potter and the Red Contact Lenses" (XDD) it's the best you're likely to find in that genre. And it's practically a novel. If you forgive a few things like the odd Americanism, you'll get sucked into a plot that's hilarious and serious by turns and full of Rowling-esque twists. (This site, by the way, appears to be an archive of some seriously oldskool fic-- the sort of thing that was around on Jada's site when I was just starting out..... Not to say it's all any good, but it's major nostalgia for me!)
Monster of Depravity? by Mistybom. This is one I remember with much fondness - and not a bit of disturbedness - from my early days of obsession. It's a totally twisted take on the Jellicle Ball and it's very good and very funny... Unfortunately, since Jada remodelled, I haven't been able to find it anywhere online, except on the wayback archive, and that's only the first few parts. And I don't even have a copy saved! *weeps* So if anyone has the rest of it...?
CindeRumpelteazer by NembleWhiska. I think you may be able to discern the basic premise of this by the title? Good. But I bet you didn't reckon on the interventions of a certain Evil Twin... Hilarious.
Sleeping Beauty by Nemblewhiska. ...And this one is possibly even funnier, but I really can't choose!
The Crumb (THERE'S ONLY A CRUMB IN THE SKY) by Norbert For President. Not being biased in the least (no, really!) this is a hilarious, masterfully off-the-wall little number that you simply must read. Norbert has an absolute genius for Macavity. And while we're here, I'd like to plug her Harry Potter fics, as they feature guest appearances by Maccy ^^ and also her Matrix ficcies because... well, for no reason other than they're utterly hilarious and utterly unlike anything else anyone else has ever written for that fandom.
Of Heaven and Hell by Pouncikit. Gaah, I cried over this. Just so you know. Well... apart from that and anything else, it's a rare and extremely vivid look into Tumble's character and emotions. It's also one of the few fics I've ever read ever that really effectively incorporate song lyrics :)
Consigned to Flames of Woe by Pouncikit. This fic may languish in its unfinished state for all eternity... But if you think you can face disappoint like that after the seventh chapter - and it may well be worth it for what you'll read first - then dive in for a delicious Misto-ccentric tale of angst and drama and all those yummy things.
The Heaviside Layer Series - Jennyanydots by Rina. Now here's a side to Jenny you don't see often!! Grouchy at not being chosen for the Heaviside Layer she, well, basically moans a lot! And it makes for a hilarious little piece.
Reflections on Macavity by Roman de Croix. 400-some of the most chilling words you're likely to find in CATSfic. We all write evil!Maccy. Most of us don't manage to write him as effectively as this.
Together Again by Rio.
Rummy by Roman de Croix. Ahem, this one is definitely
not for kittens ;) Clear? Moving on, this is at first a refreshingly
different take on Tugger... and then you wonder why he hasn't
been written more like this before. Sharp, surprising characterisations
and a truly twisty plot.
Is This Love? by Trirarien. Demeter and Munkustrap in a lovely, gentle, reflective and honest-feeling fic. I adore this portrayal of both of them, and frankly it's nice to read a Munk/Deme fic that doesn't centre around Macavity.
A CATS Story by Triskell. This is possibly the first CATS fic I ever read, and it's all the more beloved for that :) It's a very simple story, really, and yet... so well told. From the point of view of an old lady who can talk to the cats!
Shattered by Triskell. Jellylorum's reflections after a death. Very poignant, and a wonderful, fresh portrayal.
(Triskell (ff.net profile) has written so many more classic fics, both short reflective pieces and long narratives that I mean to reread and savour someday. Like Mastering the Magic of Life. And then there's Seeing in the Dark, if you want possibly the best version of the familiar Macavity-Demeter-Munkustrap story... You can take your pic, really ^^ Just a couple suggestions...)
Passion and Compassion by Tugger's Girl. This is the fic that has both made me desperately want to write a Tugger/Jemima story and scared me of doing so :) Soo lovely.
Satin Dolls by Yuffie Valentine (Or here at the Wayback Archive) - A few days in the life of Electra and her so-called family and her friends and her life... I can't summarize; it's an absolutely astonishing piece in its dark richness of language and its honesty. (It's also not for the very young'ns.) Quite unlike any other CATSfic ever and you have no idea how much you are missing out on if you haven't read.
A Comedy of Error by Yuffie Valentine - In which Yuffie V lets her silly side well and truly out to play, and yet also retains these beautiful more serious little moments. And the overarching plot is a performace of Macbeth!! I mean - it's CATS and Shakespeare! I think I might die of happy...
Shards in the Alley by Yuffie Valentine - A short, sharp, memorable piece focusing on Macavity, from Demeter's point of view. It is nothing like what you'd expect, I promise you.
There are also the Poems... I find that really good poems in fandom are severely few and far between -- if you're like me, this may be what you've been waiting for ^^
(...and since you're unlikely to find these anywhere else and as it's not very nice me saying: "read more by the same author" if you can't find them... have some links to the rest of the treasures. The ones marked with a * are not kitten-friendly:
- The Efanineffable Priscilla (*GIGGLESNORT* ♥ Tugger.),
- Jerry and Teazer's First Jellicle Ball (original version. laugh. cry. love it.),
- Roses Wither Away (*sob*), These two were later combined into...
- ...Jerry and Teazer's First Jellicle Ball (revised version),
- *Misty Eyes (Tugger/Misto before it got all popularized XD)
- Solitaire (Tantomile like never before.)
- *Waltzing the Moon - part 1, Waltzing the Moon - part 2 (a novel-scale drama about all the cats.) Partly incorporating some older fics too including:
- Sparkle in the Rain and
- Train of Thought (one of my very favourites independently, actually), and
- *After The Rain
)