Summary
On the eve of his death, an unnamed narrator opens the story by proclaiming that he is sane,
despite the wild narrative he is about to convey. This narrative begins years before, when the
narrators honorable character is well known and celebrated. He confesses a great love for cats
and dogs, both of which, he says, respect the fidelity of friendship, unlike fellow men. The
narrator marries at a young age and introduces his wife to the domestic joys of owning pets.
Among birds, goldfish, a dog, rabbits, and a monkey, the narrator singles out a large and
beautiful black cat, named Pluto, as his favorite.
Though he loves Pluto, the narrator begins to suffer from violent mood swings, predominantly
due to the influence of alcohol. He takes to mistreating not only the other animals but also his
wife. During this uncontrollable rage, he spares only Pluto. After returning home quite drunk one
night, the narrator lashes out at Pluto. Believing the cat has avoided him, he vengefully grasps
the cat, only to be bitten on the hand. In demonic retaliation, the narrator pulls a penknife from
his pocket and cuts out one of the cats eyes. Though the narrator wakes the next morning with a
partial feeling of remorse, he is unable to reverse the newly ominous course of his black soul.
Ignored for certain now by the wounded cat, the narrator soon seeks further retaliation. He is
overwhelmed by a spirit of PE R V E R S E N E S S , and sets out to commit wrong for the sake of
wrong. He hangs Pluto from the limb of a tree one morning.
On the night of Plutos hanging, the narrators familys house burns down, but he dismisses the
possibility of a connection between the two events. The day after the fire, which destroys all the
narrators possessions, he witnesses a group of neighbors collected around a wall that remains
standing. Investigating their shouts of amazement, the narrator discovers the impression of a
gigantic catwith a rope around its neckon the surface of the wall. The narrator attempts to
explain rationally the existence of the impression, but he finds himself haunted by this phantasm
over the course of many months. One night, while out drunk, the narrator discovers a black
object poised upon a large barrel of alcohol. A new black cat has appeared, resembling Pluto but
with a splash of white on his fur.
As with Pluto, the narrator experiences a great fondness for the mysterious cat, which no one
has seen before. The cat becomes part of the household, much adored by his wife as well.
However, following the earlier pattern, the narrator soon cannot resist feelings of hatred for the
cat. These murderous sentiments intensify when the narrator discovers that the cats splash of
white fur has mysteriously taken on the shape of the gallows, the structure on which a hanging
takes place. The white fur reveals the mode of execution that claimed Pluto, and the narrator
pledges revenge.
One day, descending into the cellar of the building with his wife, the narrator almost trips over the
cat. Enraged, the narrator grabs an axe to attack the cat, but his wife defends the animal. Further
angered by this interference, the narrator turns his rage at his wife and buries the axe in her
head. Faced with the evidence of his crime, the narrator considers many options for the bodys
disposal, including dismemberment and burial. The narrator eventually decides to take
advantage of the damp walls in the basement and entomb the body behind their plaster. Without
any difficulty, the narrator creates a tomb in the plaster wall, thereby hiding the body and all
traces of his murder. When he finally turns to the cat, it is missing, and he concludes that it has
been frightened away by his anger.
On the fourth day after the murder, the police arrive unexpectedly at the narrators apartment.
Cool and collected, the narrator leads them through the premises, even into the basement.
Though facing the scene of the crime, the police do not demonstrate any curiosity and prepare to
leave the residence. The narrator, however, keeps trying to allay their suspicion. Commenting
upon the solid craftsmanship of the house, he taps on the wallbehind which is his wifes body
with a cane. In response to the tapping, a long, loud cry emanates from behind the wall. The
police storm the wall and dismantle it, discovering the hidden corpse. Upon its head sits the
missing cat
