Hat Cat

Hat Cat tells the story of an old man who lives alone and enjoys his daily routine of sitting quietly on his back deck and feeding squirrels with peanuts on his hat. One day, he finds hiding under his hat a sweet little cat that he, of course, names Hat. The old man treats Hat with kindness and love, giving him food, rubs and conversation. The only thing the old man won’t allow the cat to do is go back outside with him on his daily squirrel visits as he is worried the cat will run away or scare away the squirrels. The old man wants to give Hat the freedom to accompany him outside, but he cannot bear the thought of losing either Hat or the squirrels and so forces Hat to remain inside.

One day, the old man is not there to give Hat food or rubs or conversation, and he is again gone the day after and the day after that. A young family arrives at the house and takes over looking after Hat, giving him food, rubs and conversation, but still don't let Hat out onto the back deck for fear that he will run away. Hat sees his chance one day when the door is left open and bolts outside. But, even though Hat has the chance to run away or chase the squirrels, he doesn’t. Hat instead stays on the back deck, existing peacefully and enjoying peanuts alongside the squirrels. The old man eventually returns and now lets Hat outside regularly with the understanding that Hat will not run or chase squirrels but will remain loyally by his side.

Troy Wilson narrates a gentle, understated tale of learning to trust others and how putting aside one’s fear of losing those we love is the only way we can truly love and respect each other. While the specifics of the old man’s disappearance and the new family’s emergence could be better clarified, the reader doesn’t ultimately require them to understand the familial, caring dynamic or the story’s ultimate lesson. Eve Coy’s illustrations mirror Wilson’s writing, with lush and soothing greens both inside the house and outside, creating a serene and welcoming story.