Cattails – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Cattails

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

game2017

78%

WISE Score

80%

IGDB

A cozy cat life-sim where you hunt, fight rival colonies, fall in love, and raise kittens—Stardew Valley meets Warrior Cats.

Cattails

game

2017

78%

WISE Score

80%

IGDB

A cozy cat life-sim where you hunt, fight rival colonies, fall in love, and raise kittens—Stardew Valley meets Warrior Cats.

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Where to Play

PC/Steam

Nintendo

Screenwise Verdict

Cattails is a sweet, low-drama indie game that lets kids live out their Warrior Cats fantasies without the bloodshed. It's got heart—marriage, kittens, friendships, territorial drama—but it's also showing its age (2017 graphics, somewhat repetitive mechanics).

For the right kid (animal-loving, patient, into cozy sims), this is a gem. For kids who need fast action or cutting-edge visuals, it'll feel slow and dated. The lack of predatory monetization and the wholesome vibe make it a solid pick for parents, but temper expectations: it's not Stardew Valley-level magic, more like a charming B-side.

If your kid devoured the Warrior Cats books or spends hours in Animal Crossing, this is worth the $15. If they're lukewarm on reading or need constant stimulation, they'll bounce off it in an hour.

Age Fit

Best for ages 10–16 who love cozy games, animals, and low-stakes RPGs. Younger kids may struggle with the reading and find the survival loop repetitive; older teens might find it too simple unless they're into the chill-game genre.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A gentle life-sim that centers on community, relationships, and survival without resorting to dark themes. The 'mild fantasy violence' is cat-on-cat territorial disputes—nothing graphic. You can get married, raise kittens, befriend neighbors, and help your colony thrive. The tone is cozy and cooperative, with social bonds at the heart of gameplay. No toxicity, no mean-spirited humor, just cats trying to make it in the wild.

Imaginative

The premise—live as a feral cat in an open-world wilderness—is charming and unusual. You hunt, forage, gather herbs, explore seasons, and build relationships with distinct cat personalities. The catnip mechanic is apparently hilarious. It's not groundbreaking in mechanics (it borrows heavily from Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing), but the animal-perspective twist and the freedom to shape your cat's life (which colony to join, who to marry, how to spend your days) offer solid creative latitude.

Safe

ESRB E for Everyone with mild fantasy violence (cat fights for territory). No in-game purchases, no loot boxes, no online chat. Users can interact (likely through Steam features), but the game itself is single-player and offline. No manipulative loops—it's a finite, story-driven RPG with clear goals. The 'violence' is stylized and bloodless. Privacy-respecting indie game with no predatory monetization. Very clean.

Enriching

Cattails teaches resource management, planning (seasonal changes affect food availability), social navigation (building relationships with other cats), and consequence (your choices shape colony dynamics and family life). It's low-stakes problem-solving in a survival context. That said, it's primarily entertainment—a cozy RPG, not an educational game. The reading required for dialogue and quests will help literacy for younger players, but the enrichment is modest: it's about vibes, routine, and gentle strategy, not deep insight or skill-building.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Low-stress gameplay with cute aesthetics and a devoted fanbase—perfect for kids who love animals and gentle RPGs
Teaches resource management, seasonal planning, and social dynamics (befriending cats, choosing a mate, raising a family)
No monetization traps: one-time purchase, no ads, no loot boxes, no online chat
Diverse, funny cat characters with inclusive pronoun options; the catnip mechanic is reportedly hilarious
Open-world exploration with real consequences—your choices shape colony life and family outcomes

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What to Watch For

Requires reading skills for dialogue and quests; younger kids (under 10) may struggle or lose interest
Mild fantasy violence (cat fights over territory)—stylized and bloodless, but it's there
Released in 2017, so graphics and mechanics feel a bit dated compared to newer indie darlings

Conversation Starters

"Which cat colony would you join if you were a wild cat—the one that values hunting skills or the one that's more peaceful?"
"What would you name your cat family, and how would you take care of your kittens?"
"If you had to survive in the wild like the cats in the game, what would be the hardest part for you?"
"Why do you think the game lets you try catnip? What do you think happens?"

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