The Best cats in Magic: The Gathering for EDH

Since the format’s inception, typal cards and decks have always had their home within Commander. While there are plenty of tribes to choose from, from Angels to Zombies, one of our, or at least my, favorites has to be Cats. 

Despite being filled with some of the cutest critters, and is affectionately known as a Cat-mander deck, cat typal is a surprisingly potent recipe for a Commander deck. Thanks to plenty of Lords and powerful Legendary creatures, you’ll be wise to avoid these cats’ claws if you ever face them in battle.

Without any further ado, let’s get right into which cats are best for typal decks, and why you should definitely build one!

The best Legendary cats in Magic: The Gathering for Commander

Like any Commander deck, choosing which Legendary creature to helm your deck is no easy feat. Thankfully when it comes to cats, there are plenty of choices. Regardless of whether you’re looking for offense, defense, or more tokens than what you know to do with! The only real option you have to make before cramming every available legendary into your deck is which colors you want to play.

Rin and Seri, Inseparable

As one of the most played Commanders in cat typal decks, it’s only natural that Rin and Seri, Inseparable Rin and Seri, Inseparable Whenever you cast a Dog spell, create a 1/1 green Cat creature token.
Whenever you cast a Cat spell, create a 1/1 white Dog creature token.
{R}{G}{W}, {T}: Rin and Seri deals damage to any target equal to the number of Dogs you control. You gain life equal to the number of Cats you control. have a place on this list, even if that means having a dog as your Commander. With the ability to create dog tokens every time you cast a cat spell, Rin and Seri, Inseparable somewhat disrupts the theme of the deck, however, it’s not without good cause. 

More dog tokens mean more damage from Rin and Seri, Inseparable’s activated ability. For RGW, this ability provides some well-needed removal, and life gain, in a deck that’s otherwise relying on a limited selection of instants and sorceries.

Brimaz, King of Oreskos

Providing the ability to create 1/1 cat tokens from both attacking and blocking, Brimaz, King of Oreskos Brimaz, King of Oreskos Vigilance
Whenever Brimaz attacks, create a 1/1 white Cat Soldier creature token with vigilance that's attacking.
Whenever Brimaz blocks a creature, create a 1/1 white Cat Soldier creature token with vigilance that's blocking that creature. is a cheap and effective Commander that you’ll want to have as a threat on the board as much as possible. 

Unfortunately, as a Commander, Brimaz, King of Oreskos will limit you to only playing white, meaning you’ll miss out on some of the strongest cats around such as Feline Sovereign Feline Sovereign Other Cats you control get +1/+1 and have protection from Dogs.
Whenever one or more Cats you control deal combat damage to a player, destroy up to one target artifact or enchantment that player controls. . Nevertheless, Brimaz, King of Oreskos is definitely a cat to include in your deck, just potentially not as your commander.

Arahbo, Roar of the World

Thanks to its Eminence ability, Arahbo, Roar of the World makes a fantastic Commander for any cat-themed typal deck. Regardless of whether it’s in or out of the Command zone, Arahbo, Roar of the World can give a cat you control +3/+3 each turn, potentially putting the odds in your favor from the start of the game. 

Alongside the ability to buff one of your cats from the start of the game, Arahbo, Roar of the World Arahbo, Roar of the World Eminence — At the beginning of combat on your turn, if Arahbo is in the command zone or on the battlefield, another target Cat you control gets +3/+3 until end of turn.
Whenever another Cat you control attacks, you may pay {1}{G}{W}. If you do, it gains trample and gets +X/+X until end of turn, where X is its power. also lets you double their power, so long as you have the mana. At just 1GW, Arahbo, Roar of the World’s ability to give an attacking +X/+X, where X is its power, can quickly make your creatures a game-ending threat that are hard to stop without removal thanks to that lucky cat also getting trample.

Marisi, Breaker of the Coil

Whether you’re looking to stop your opponents from disrupting your carefully calculated combat or just sow some chaos, Marisi, Breaker of the Coil Marisi, Breaker of the Coil Your opponents can't cast spells during combat.
Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, goad each creature that player controls. (Until your next turn, those creatures attack each combat if able and attack a player other than you if able.) is a fine choice for the leader of your cat army. 

Alongside the ability to stop opponents from casting spells during combat, Marisi, Beaker of the Coil also boasts the ability to goad every single creature an opponent controls upon dealing damage to that player. As we explored in our guide to the mechanic, Goad has the power to disrupt not just one, but multiple of your opponent’s board states.

Mirri, Weatherlight Duelist

To counteract the somewhat fragile nature of the cat-mander deck, Mirri, Weatherlight Duelist, is a Commander that nullifies your opponent’s creatures. While Mirri, Weatherlight Duelist, unfortunately, won’t protect you from board clearing removal spells, her ability that prevents more than one creature from attacking you while she’s tapped isn’t to be dismissed. 

While slowing down your opponents, Mirri, Weatherlight Duelist Mirri, Weatherlight Duelist First strike
Whenever Mirri attacks, each opponent can't block with more than one creature this combat.
As long as Mirri is tapped, no more than one creature can attack you each combat. is also adept at dishing out damage. When Mirri attacks, her ability will prevent opponents from blocking with more than one creature each combat. With how wide the cat typal decks tend to go, this ability could let you devastate your opponent’s life total, ending their game in one lethal attack.

Ajani, the Greathearted

While Ajani, the Greathearted may not be able to be your commander, we couldn’t exclude the Planeswalker from this list. With the ability to buff your entire board with +1/+1 counters and give your creatures vigilance for as long as he sticks around, Ajani, the Greathearted Ajani, the Greathearted Creatures you control have vigilance.
+1: You gain 3 life.
−2: Put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control and a loyalty counter on each other planeswalker you control. is an absolute powerhouse of a cat whether he’s played early or late game.

The Best non Legendary cats in Magic: The Gathering for Commander

With only 31 Legendary cats available to be included in your Commander deck, you’ll also need an assortment of non-Legendary creatures. However, this doesn’t mean we need to disrupt the theme. There are still plenty of powerful cats for your consideration. As with most decks, the best creatures expand your board state and synergize with one another to make your army of cats near unstoppable. 

Displacer Kitten

As we noted in our article on the top five MTG Baldur’s Gate singles to buy, Displacer Kitten Displacer Kitten Avoidance — Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, exile up to one target nonland permanent you control, then return that card to the battlefield under its owner's control. is an absolute powerhouse in Commander. With the ability to flicker any nonland permanent you control, Displacer Kitten is a gateway into multiple near unstoppable combos.

Regardless of whether you’re flickering Agent of Treachery Agent of Treachery When this creature enters, gain control of target permanent.
At the beginning of your end step, if you control three or more permanents you don't own, draw three cards. , Dockside Extortionist Dockside Extortionist When this creature enters, create X Treasure tokens, where X is the number of artifacts and enchantments your opponents control. (Treasure tokens are artifacts with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.") , or Elspeth Conquers Death Elspeth Conquers Death (As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after III.)
I — Exile target permanent an opponent controls with mana value 3 or greater.
II — Noncreature spells your opponents cast cost {2} more to cast until your next turn.
III — Return target creature or planeswalker card from your graveyard to the battlefield. Put a +1/+1 counter or a loyalty counter on it. , Displacer kitten is a must-have in your cat typal Commander deck if you’re playing blue.

Alms Collector

Alms Collector stops players from drawing an absurd number of cards off of effects like Wheel of Fortune. Instead of each player drawing seven cards, you’ll draw seven plus one for each other player. Other players will simply draw one card.

Thanks to the popularity of wheel effects like Windfall combined with draw hosers like Narset, Parter of Veils, Alms Collector generally ends up doing a lot of heavy lifting.

Regal Caracal

Regal Caracal may not come cheap, but its ability to give all other cats +1/+1 and lifelink more than makes up for the cost. Entering the battlefield alongside two 1/1 cat tokens to further justify its cost, Regal Caracal Regal Caracal Other Cats you control get +1/+1 and have lifelink. (Damage dealt by those creatures also causes you to gain that much life.)
When this creature enters, create two 1/1 white Cat creature tokens with lifelink. has the power not just to develop your board state but to turn it into a real threat.

Feline Sovereign

As potentially the best non Legendary cat in Magic: The Gathering, not only does Feline Sovereign Feline Sovereign Other Cats you control get +1/+1 and have protection from Dogs.
Whenever one or more Cats you control deal combat damage to a player, destroy up to one target artifact or enchantment that player controls. buff your board, but it also protects your cats from their biggest enemy: dogs. This effect may not be all too useful outside of a cat vs. dog typal battle. However, the flavor alone surely makes it a worthy inclusion in your deck. If the flavor isn’t enough to convince you, Feline Sovereign also handily lets your cats deal with artifacts and enchantments.

King of the Pride

Similar to Regal Caracal Regal Caracal Other Cats you control get +1/+1 and have lifelink. (Damage dealt by those creatures also causes you to gain that much life.)
When this creature enters, create two 1/1 white Cat creature tokens with lifelink. and Feline Sovereign Feline Sovereign Other Cats you control get +1/+1 and have protection from Dogs.
Whenever one or more Cats you control deal combat damage to a player, destroy up to one target artifact or enchantment that player controls. , King of the Pride buffs all other cats on your board, just better. At just three mana, King of the Pride King of the Pride Other Cats you control get +2/+1. may not have many fancy bells and whistles, but what it does have is the potential for a whole lot of damage thanks to giving all your other cats +2/+1. 

READ MORE: The Best Tutors in EDH

Pride Sovereign

For the times where you want to go big rather than wide, Pride Sovereign is there to put the fear of cat-based god into your opponents. Getting +1/+1 for every other cat you control, a typal deck all about cats is sure to turn Pride Sovereign Pride Sovereign This creature gets +1/+1 for each other Cat you control.
{W}, {T}, Exert this creature: Create two 1/1 white Cat creature tokens with lifelink. (An exerted creature won't untap during your next untap step.) into a serious threat and, admittedly, a significant target for removal. With the additional Exert ability to create two 1/1 cat tokens with lifelink, Pride Sovereign can even be helpful when it’s not attacking.

Leonin Warleader

Leonin Warleader Leonin Warleader Whenever this creature attacks, create two 1/1 white Cat creature tokens with lifelink that are tapped and attacking. is one of the best token-generating creatures that are available in a cat typal deck. With the ability to create two 1/1 cat tokens that are tapped and attacking, Leonin Warleader is only hampered by its need to attack itself. Alongside Doubling Season Doubling Season If an effect would create one or more tokens under your control, it creates twice that many of those tokens instead.
If an effect would put one or more counters on a permanent you control, it puts twice that many of those counters on that permanent instead. or Parallel Lives Parallel Lives If an effect would create one or more tokens under your control, it creates twice that many of those tokens instead. , Leonin Warleader can quickly become a huge threat on the board, especially when coupled with other cats dishing out plenty of buffs.

The Best non-cats for your cat typal deck in Magic: The Gathering

As fun as it would be to have a commander deck that is literally nothing other than cats, sometimes it’s best to include a few cat adjacent cards. Whether they’re Commander staple instants and sorceries or enchantments to buff your board, consider these cards like treats for all your hardworking cats.

Felidar Retreat

With the ability to make the land you’re flooded with useful, Felidar Retreat is an obvious inclusion in cat-themed decks. Giving you a choice between making a 2/2 cat beast token and giving your creatures a +1/+1 counter and vigilance for a turn, upon Landfall, Felidar Retreat Felidar Retreat Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, choose one —
• Create a 2/2 white Cat Beast creature token.
• Put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control. Those creatures gain vigilance until end of turn. is always useful for as long as it sticks around. 

Heroic Intervention

While maybe not as interesting as the cat creating enchantments, Heroic Intervention Heroic Intervention Permanents you control gain hexproof and indestructible until end of turn. is a must-have in any cat typal deck for its ability to deal with the biggest threat to cat kind: removal. Providing hexproof and indestructible to all your creatures until the end of turn, Heroic Intervention lets you safely survive board wipes such as Wrath of God Wrath of God Destroy all creatures. They can't be regenerated. , which is a must-have in Commander. 

Anointed Procession

With cat typal decks potentially creating a whole cattery’s worth of tokens, Anointed Procession Anointed Procession If an effect would create one or more tokens under your control, it creates twice that many of those tokens instead. is an ideal enchantment for creating even more cats. For only four mana, the same cost as Parallel Lives Parallel Lives If an effect would create one or more tokens under your control, it creates twice that many of those tokens instead. , you’ll get twice as many tokens from any spell in your deck, allowing you to quickly build up a board that’s as wide as it is deadly.

Cathars’ Crusade

At 3WW, Cathar’s Crusade Cathar’s Crusade Whenever a creature you control enters, put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control. is much more expensive than other board buffing options such as Rally the Ranks Rally the Ranks As this enchantment enters, choose a creature type.
Creatures you control of the chosen type get +1/+1. . However, this is for a good reason. Rather than just applying a flat +1/+1 buff to your board, Cathars’ Crusade gives all your creatures a +1/+1 counter whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control. With a few well-timed cats, this will let you turn your creatures and tokens alike into serious forces to be reckoned with.

Guardian Project

Even in a deck that relies heavily on tokens, Guardian Project Guardian Project Whenever a nontoken creature you control enters, if it doesn't have the same name as another creature you control or a creature card in your graveyard, draw a card. still has a home in any cat-mander deck. Thanks to its ability to draw a card for every unique creature in your deck, Guardian Project even made our list of the top twelve best bits of green card draw in MTG. 

Honorable Mentions

These three cards may not be the ideal fit for your cat typal Commander deck in every situation. However, it feels like it’d be a crime not to include them on this list. With how cute these three cats are, we’re confident it could actually be illegal not to include them in your deck. Could you bring yourself to say no to their adorable faces?

Read More: The 13 Best Enchantments In Commander