
- BGG rank
- BGG #23,893
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Owly Tribe
- 2–6 players
- 20–40 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2019

2018
Rules assistance for Cat'astrophes
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Cat'astrophes is a board game released in 2018 for 2–6 players, 10–20 minutes per game, and ages 7 and up. It was designed by Ludovic Mahieu and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Memory, and Action Queue.
You’re a cat now! And as any self-respecting cat, your way of life is to make as much mischief as possible. But beware : don't get caught by a Hooman or you’ll be grounded! Try to blame another cat instead! How to play? Each player plays his turn, starting by the first player. You can make 3 different moves: 1. Play a hidden card in front of you 2. Play a hidden card in front of another player 3. Draw one to two cards from the deck When everybody has made a move, all players reveal the cards and effects are applied on the shared mischief stair. Then check who got caught! In the game, there are 3 kinds of cards: • Mischief: Increase the Hooman owner awareness and anger • Purring: lower the Hooman owner awareness and anger • Sneaky: Increase the Hooman owner awareness and anger but change the tide of a turn! The game ends when a cat was very bad and grounded 20 times or when the deck is empty. The less grounded cat wins the game! Cat’astrophes is a family card game for 2 to 6 players. Recommended starting age is 7+. Play session lasts about 15 minutes on average. Both core board gamers and casual players can enjoy the game due to the guessing mechanic and the possibility to use strategies!
Cat'astrophes supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Cat'astrophes is 10–20 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Cat'astrophes for ages 7 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Cat'astrophes has a complexity rating of 1.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Cat'astrophes belongs to these categories: Card Game, Humor, and Animals. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Memory, and Action Queue. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Cat'astrophes are: Ludovic Mahieu. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Cat'astrophes as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.