Pressing paws: Stray, the video game that’s a hit with cats (and their humans)

Stray, a new indie title starring the internet's favourite animal, is delighting players and pets alike, and its creators at BlueTwelve have been charmed by the reaction

When a video game has us playing as an animal, it's usually some psychedelic anthropomorphic cartoon creature such as Crash Bandicoot or Sonic the Hedgehog. Rarely do we actually behave like an animal, although when we do, it can be hilarious: 2019's breakout cult hit Untitled Goose Game stars a nasty goose honking, pecking and chasing its way around a village of peeved humans, for instance. Stray, released last week, has us playing as the internet's favourite animal, a cat, doing cat stuff: pattering across roofs, snoozing on cozy cushions, pushing things off shelves for no discernible reason.

Players and critics have lapped Stray up. Even Peta likes it. But it's also been winning over the feline population. Players have been posting pictures and videos of their own cats watching the game, apparently fascinated by the virtual cat's surprisingly realistic movement and meows. The Twitter account @CatsWatchStray has now compiled hundreds of them.