The Cats of Ulthar

Ulthar is a city in which it is forbidden to kill cats. But it was not always the case – years ago there was an old cotter and his wife who enjoyed trapping and killing the cats of their neighbours. The locals were frightened by the odd couple, and no one dared to put a stop to their nonsense. Things changed, however, when a certain traveller arrived in the town. When his black kitten suddenly disappeared, he decided to pray – with unexpected consequences. ‘The Cats of Ulthar’ is  H. P. Lovecraft’s thrilling short story first published in 1920.


H.P. Lovecraft (1890–1937) was an American horror writer. His best known works include ‘The Call of Cthulhu’ and ‘the Mountains of Madness’. Most of his work was originally published in pulp magazines, and Lovecraft rose into fame only after his death at the age of 46. He has had a great influence in both horror and science fiction genres.