Why Coraline Should NOT Trust the Cat

[@kikisartjourney4265]

I feel he's not malicious, but still of some magic type. Cats through many cultures are tied to spiritual and magical things. Cats are also just generally playful and get bored easily. So, while I feel he is trying to help coriline and protect her, he's doing it in a way to entertain himself a bit. But things get a bit more crazy than he expected at first, hence the fear he shows at points.

[@CatCheshire]

Yeah, for me cat plays games with Beldam - She traps children in her illusions and cat helps them realise it's all fake and run away. They messed with Beldam just to mess with her.

[@tayloranderson7547]

The fear he shows at points.

[@_Artistofhell_]

I was going to say that! Cats are known for being magical and spiritual😂

[@Ghostie_Cat]

Agreed, completely

[@SingingSealRiana]

If he is a familiar, he woud be Coralines familiar, weird, that that never gets braught up as an option

[@skellymom]

The writer of Coraline, Neil Gaiman, is a fan of cats and seems to write them into his many stories as good, protective characters, or beings that possess some type of supernatural powers. I think the cat in this story is no different.

[@heszedjim9699]

This trope goes back to lovecraft too

[@giulianofrusciante3178]

@@heszedjim9699 Oh no, not lovecrafts cat...

[@Tsukasamimi]

@@giulianofrusciante3178 We do not speak of it....

[@heszedjim9699]

@@giulianofrusciante3178 no, im talking about the books

[@hesperio9]

I totally agree.

[@psychosislove]

This makes me think of the phrase, "Cats can walk through walls." Also, this cat reminds me a lot of the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland. They both are cryptic, seem to know everything and more, are mischievous, and very sneaky. This was a good analysis. I love your Coraline videos.

[@coffee-ouji]

the difference that separates these two is that The Cat from Coraline smoke a big cigar drank a whiskey and started to tell stories about the dark and unknown and the Cheshire Cat smoke a fat dart with the caterpillar and then tries to pretend its pupils aren't dilated

[@fulana_de_tal]

they share a voice actor in my language, so i always thought they were similar

[@Inferno65]

Except neither has sinister ulterior motives.

[@Inferno65]

@XXV What are you talking about? Mine lets me watch him do that all the time.

[@Inferno65]

@XXV You seriously think my cat can walk through walls man?

[@misspinkpunkykat]

Reminds me of a story I heard as a child. In it, cats have 3 names. The name their person calls them, the name other cats call them and the name they give themselves.

[@aura5987]

That's from T.S. Elliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats", which was the source material for the Cats musical :)

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

I named my cat Lindor after the white chocolate but the other cats call him the fat pig who eats all their food and he calls himself King 👑

[@feyfox8005]

This idea is something that comes from the ancient witching world. There are spells that have to with bonding yourself with your cat familiar and part if that is discovering the cats other 2 names as a symbol of the cats trust in you.

[@shirin9452]

@@nuclearcatbaby1131 why is this so funny

[@Deadflower019]

not Cats.

[@4ngelofluv]

i think the cat and the other mother are equals of sorts, they are both creatures that infiltrate these different 'realms' playing 'cat and mouse'. the other mother attempts to steal the souls of children she lures to her web and the cat untangles her progress by helping the children to escape (whether they succeed or fail has nothing to do with the cat, he helps every child the same). sometimes the other mother wins, the other time she loses, she tries to keep him out bc he ruins everything she does -- the cat does this out of boredom (all a game to him) and the other mother/ the beldam wants to take children for her own selfish hunger. there are higher, ancient being that both the beldam and the cat are afraid of/respectful of (the corridor, the realm itself etc) and they both leave them be as they are afraid - perhaps their powers are greater bc they're older/ancient? (like as old as time itself)

[@tayloranderson7547]

The other mother attempts to steal the souls of children she lures to her web the cat and knowledge her price prices but I helping the children to escape rather than they successfully or fail has nothing to do with the cat he helps every child the same sometimes the other mother wins the other time she loses she ties to help him out basically he ruins everything she does the cat goes this out of the boredom all a game to him ) and the other mother is a / the beldam the Coriandor, the realm as old as time itself )

[@jellyguy564]

@@tayloranderson7547 what?

[@prettyspectrum6371]

The " cat and mouse play" you mentioned fits perfectly. Since the other mother controls the rats, a lot of things she has or knows is from them

[@citadeldweller]

If they are equals, then that halfway proves my theory that the cat, too, can shapeshift. I believe the cat appears to coraline as a cat, because that is what she finds nonthreathing, or harmless, if you will. So someone who is a dog person would see a bird, if someone really liked Nicholas kage, maybe he would turn in to that? (Just a weird theory)

[@Rei_thegamer27]

:O

[@Stinger05]

I feel like the cat is some kind of true neutral planeswalker type deal who's been around on adventures for a while and decided to help out Coraline while also having a bit of fun

[@shirin9452]

Kind of like the cat will help children because it’s not evil but if they die it’ll be like oh, my. How unfortunate. I was really rooting for that one, and then continue on its way

[@Stinger05]

@@shirin9452 and also he just doesn’t like the Beldam lol

[@ohdeer-sabrina8132]

As much as I like the shapeshifting idea, I think the cat looks bigger on the empty space when Coraline first sees him to notify the viewer that it's literally a BLANK space, so notions of perspective are a but wonky. But I might be wrong

[@citadeldweller]

That’s a very interesting theory. It makes a lot of sense, more than a lot of things I’ve heard, but there is usually a different way of explaining this in gaimans writing. The shapeshifter theory makes more sense because of the prior evidence, however I am slightly bias, as this is a theory I like a lot.

[@PatrickRsGhost]

This makes sense. Sensory deprivation occurs when you're in basically a void. No space or time perception. That void could be complete darkness or solid white light. If you were trapped in a room with white, untextured walls, no windows, completely soundproof, and no visible source of light, but it was still very bright, your perception of space and time would become skewed beyond oblivion. Same as with being in a completely dark room. No perception of space or time. A small cat could seem as large as a mountain lion, whereas an elephant could seem as small as a mouse.

[@nexusdrop7863]

I think it implies that normal senses cannot translate higher dimensional senses. She noticed something despite physically nothing changed, this is similar to it's weight being heavy but something that could be moved. Like moving your hand in a strong breeze: more than sight tells you something is there and it has an effect on you.

[@randomwhovian1075]

Him saying he’s not the “other” anything could also be him using Coralline’s vernacular to make it clear that he’s NOT like the other mother.

[@OneOfTheShadowsHere]

Right, this is exactly what i thought, he was just emphasizing that he is in fact unique in every way but then, Coraline hearing him talk in the other mother's world could just all be in her head, too. Just a thought!~

[@TidalShadow]

The beldame is prey to the cat. The way the cat acts always implies this, but by the time of Coraline, the beldame has become too powerful for the cat to eat her. That's why the cat wants Coraline's help. He doesn't play with Coraline, because she is not prey, but he plays with the beldame because she is. The beldame and cat both fear the corridor because it is a more dangerous predator than either of them.

[@nerdymery6438]

This

[@lampsenpai4325]

What is the corridor

[@frijolito9392]

@@lampsenpai4325have you even watched the video

[@Brandon-yq1tm]

@@lampsenpai4325 in the book the corridor is seen as an elder entity far worse than the beldame and almost kills her.

[@yggdrasil9006]

This is the truth. Wish you to be in peace, forever!

[@Ghostykins]

I think for those of us who know and love cats this cat is pretty clearly just a perfect example of how humans have always associated cats with magic and power and mysticism. They seem to walk in worlds we can't comprehend while still existing in ours. They also aren't necessarily malicious, but a cat is going to do what a cat wants to do. It seems very much like a normal cat, I would just assume all cats in this world have this ability to see things us regular humans cannot.

[@coffee-ouji]

i like the idea that The Cat has more powers in Other World, hence why they can speak. Or maybe they're just hiding it in the real world and it's just being a little mischievous. Who knows, who knows

[@moralityisnotsubjective5]

Having had a number of cats over the years I can assure anyone that the cat is just being a cat. They are as they are and if they like you it is a good thing. You should feel honored for it. And, yes, they are quite mysterious and powerful creatures. There is a reason Egyptians worshipped them and Puritans feared them.

[@luckas221a]

I think, if the cat is a cosmic being as the video suggests, its prey is the Beldame/Other Mother. It's playing with her, not with Coraline. Maybe it's been preying on her for a long long time, but now she's become far too strong for him to eat (his dinner "escaped" getting eaten). Now he needs Coraline to weaken her.

[@DJMaddzzz]

I always joke about cats being time lords because they always seem to disappear and reappear, and one of my cats finds hiding places that I can never find her in. I always joke about how they go to other dimensions and that’s why I can’t find them.

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

Oh yes. My cat disappears and then during meal time suddenly appears out of the woodwork like a fairy that had just poofed in. It’s funny how I don’t know where to find him but he ALWAYS knows where to find himself.

[@fiiredark]

There’s a book I always enjoyed when I was younger named, “Time Cat”. It’s by Lloyd Alexander. Apparently it was published all the way back in 1963. I just googled it. (I’m nowhere near that old!) Check it out maybe.

[@stormfortune1595]

my cat is gone right now too and i never understand where he goes because i never see him outside but he just reappears sitting by the doorstep or by my window and only asks me to let him into my room when he wants to sleep

[@randallbesch2424]

I joke that cats protect us from the Old Ones that from timer-to-time poke into our dimension to sow violence and mayhem. When cats can see things we can't.

[@hawkticus_history_corner]

I think that when the cat says that it's not spread out, it's referring to the fact that there can only be a single instance of itself. No copies, no duplicates, no clones, no other versions of itself in the multiverse, it is a single creature. And as such, its incredibly weird.

[@thegayghost872]

I have this theory that the Other Mother and the Cat are playing a game with each other, sort of. The Cat tries to keep the children away from the Other Mother, and she tries to lure them into her web

[@kathrinen3834]

Oooh. Just jumping off on this. What does the other mother create? Mice that turn into terrifying other rats.

[@tayloranderson7547]

For real life

[@TotalContemplation]

Thats interesting

[@kathrinen3834]

Actually, if you’re open minded enough to tie things together… What do cats usually go after? Bugs, mice and fish. Sure some of these are antiquated, but, if you tie them into the story, the old ladies turn into mermaids (fish), other dad is a bug and so is other mother (spider) and of course the mice rat terrifying combo. Definitely could be nothing, but in combination with this video and your idea, it’s an interesting thing to think about.

[@AzaelRulz]

​@@kathrinen3834are you referring to the book or movie? In the movie, Other Spink is simply dressed as a mermaid while Forcible is dressed (or rather UNdressed) as the Goddess Aphrodite at her birth from sea foam, and the Other Father is a Pumpkin, not a bug. If you're referring to the book, then I apologize as I haven't read it since Sixth Grade.😅

[@chewiecheshire7973]

You could also connect it to the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland. It is a mysterious talking cat in an other "fairy" world, that guides the protagonist, seems to antagonize the bloodthirsty matriarch of the world, and can dissapear at will. Admittedly the Cheshire cat doesn't appear nearly as often as this cat, so we can't know much about it. But they are both mischevious entities, that toy with all the other characters.

[@Nyx_Room]

I was thinking about this too! Cheshire cat is loony tho haha 😂

[@tenshikaren]

I was coming down here to mention this lol, but actually I think the Cheshire Cat appears around the same number of times (I believe in the book). I must also mention that the Cheshire Cat is the only one who properly listens and responds to Alice; all the other characters assume the dynamic of 'common sense' in their realm applies to Alice's common sense and the Cat explains the world... albeit in riddles lol. This makes the similarities significantly greater, as the cat in all 3 movies are great listeners, though Nightmare Before Christmas cat doesn't give advice about 'common sense'.

[@Nyx_Room]

@@tenshikaren that's true and in Coraline there is a cat explaining the magic of the beldam.pretty good observation.

[@nothri]

I think the cat is just meant to be a cat. This isn't as dismissive as it sounds. Given what the cat says I think the story implies that cats in this world, similar to Lovecraft, are creatures that are clever and aloof enough to be aware of the supernatural and know tricks to avoid and exploit otherworldly spaces. Basically I'd suggest the cat knows how to enter the other world because it is a clever normal creature that has learned some things by poking into places humans don't go. That's my preferred interpretation of the story, anyway. I like the idea of cats just by virtue of being cats are being of secret esoteric knowledge that know how to go to places other people can't go. Also, the reason the cat can talk is just a quirk of the other world...or maybe the reason it can't talk is just a quirk of the normal world. It feels true of Neil Gaiman to set it up that way, he has a habit of injecting magic into the ordinary in his urban fantasy books.

[@sp1atk1tty]

i also think that he’s just simply a cat. i think the only difference is that when he goes through the door to the other world, the magic there permits him to speak.

[@PrincessBarky5790]

I've had cats my entire life, and I barely registered that there was anything odd about the Cat in Coraline, because cats are just Like That. Like, there have been so many instances where I've been chilling with one of them, and they'll suddenly look me dead in the eye, and I can just feel that they are trying to speak. It is alarming how human they act and look sometimes.

[@nr-zr5cl]

seek mental help

[@TheLightShines]

I love cats for this reason lol. Such incredible, intriguing creatures.

[@enbeast8350]

We joke that our cats can teleport

[@moralityisnotsubjective5]

@@enbeast8350 They absolutely can. I can't tell you how many times I've closed a door thinking a cat was on the other side only to turn around and have them suddenly in front of me. It's very unnerving the first few times, but after awhile I stopped thinking about it.

[@danchiziofficial2159]

​@@enbeast8350sick help

[@starlightsoiree]

One of my other favorite stories by Neil Gaiman features a little black cat that stands off with a demon/the devil at the edge of their family's property every night- I think ol' Neil is just fond of cats and their mysterious wiles from folklore. He's always portrayed black cats as guardian figures, if aloof ones!

[@trs16]

What’s the story called? 👀

[@starlightsoiree]

@@trs16 it was in one of his short story collections- I think it's called 'The Price'

[@Akira_of_the_Fae]

My bf and i love the lore of this kind of stuff, our running theory is that cats are guardians of worlds, including the underworld. This specific cat was probably assigned to this portal because of the trouble caused in the faerie relm from the child being stolen from there. He cant directly interfere with the other mother, only a child can, which is why he helped coraline

[@Ari-dz2rs]

it would be interesting to see a story where he got in trouble with the "bosses" of sorts for pulling out the beldams buttons.

[@whynot1716]

The cat vanishing behind trees is a reference to old cat lore where cats are able to go between both our world and the spirit realm

[@Silver_Sonic_23]

"Why Coraline should not trust the cat." Other Mother, is that you?

[@emmamcdonald4585]

XD Maybe

[@countessspiritclaws5465]

I don’t think we’re ever supposed to understand the cat, at least not fully. We’re fed enough ominous lines to contribute to a sense of abstract horror, but we’re never given that final piece that we need for the puzzle to be complete. As frustrating as it may be, I think this fact is exactly why the cat is so unsettling but interesting. The cat plays on our fear of the unknown, and their obscurity is exactly what makes them appealing. If we could figure this creature out, the answer likely wouldn’t be as satisfying or engaging as the endless possibilities our brains have come up with. It could also be implied that this entity is beyond human comprehension, and they only tell us the bits and pieces about themself that we’ll understand. I get the sense that the vague things the cat says are sort of a ‘if you know, you know’ situation, but we don’t know, so we don’t pick up on the true meaning of their words.

[@LibraryofAcousticMagic3240]

are you really talking about the same cat she is talking about? Or maybe some other talking cat?

[@Veldazandtea]

Horror? I don't fear the cat. Why would you?

[@MossMothMyBeloved]

@@Veldazandtea The cats whole demeanor and how little we know about it does make him a bit unnerving.

[@JuliaElizabethGraves]

I personally think the cat is just a cat. But not in the regular (scientific?) way. I think in the book they’re supposed to encourage the spiritual and witchy connotations cats have and show the entire species as some sort of an interdimentional beings, existing on an entirely different plane to humans. I also think it ties in nicely with the anthropozoological belief that all animals have their own ways of existing and people shouldn’t assign them human traits because the way they function is beyond our comprehension.

[@tayloranderson7547]

I think in the book they're supposed to encourage the spirit in which he spiritual and witchy the cat shows it to enter suspicious as short being expensive brief all animals their own way people should assign the human traits because they function beyond our comprehension.

[@irisynth]

​@@tayloranderson7547 Why do you keep copy and pasting the persons comment, lol?

[@neerajackson9655]

I'd like to think that the cat did have a deep interest in corlaine, and genuinely cared for her and wasn't using him for his own game against the Beldam. From the moment coraline arrived, he watched after her, followed her, and in his own little ways, tried to save her.

[@zoopothecary]

“Are they a normal cat, or an immortal cosmic entity” … the logical fallacy here is thinking those are two separate things 🙃

[@carlosandleon]

🙄

[@Veldazandtea]

How many cats do you know that can talk? Pretty sure that rules out normal.

[@moralityisnotsubjective5]

@@Veldazandtea Depends on what you mean by "talk".

[@sarahthesarah2850]

Possibly Coraline is a " witch" able to understand things at a more subtle level. The cat is Coraline's guide/ familiar like a spirit teacher. Oftentimes such folk are said to have Fey lineage. As a possibility that is, not a fact.

[@f0olk94]

With this and A Dream of A Thousand Cats, I'm convinced Gaiman has mastered the art of writing cats.

[@pink_parade2900]

Personally I kinda like the idea that this cat isn't unique in it's world hopping abilities and that all cats just have a knack for traversing the different worlds and slipping in and out of reality. Though I do also like the idea that the cat isn't "Good" as well (like the raven in Nevermore).

[@Xaforn]

He came across as a typical cat to me as far as what we hear about in many stories; cats are said to be able to see other realms, be extremely intelligent, have many abilities such as speaking when they wish, extensive knowledge, form changing, etc. His cocky attitude is very fitting as well. I really liked the cat.

[@joe_tea9205]

Not Frank spoiling us with more Coraline content!

[@digstrememcdingus1463]

My personal theory is that he used to be part of the same monster as the corridor, like its soul or something, hence being able to go between worlds, when the gateways close, it's the monster waking up on its own, beginning to digest the other world due to the spell she seems to use running out of power, out of souls

[@Appolyon]

I don't think, that we have some special cat here, although all cats are special in their own way. They all are mysterious and magical in nature. You mentioned lovecraftian horrors in your episode about the tunnel, and the Other World of Corlaine reminds me of the Dream Lands from Lovecraft's stories in the way that cats can talk there. "For the cat is cryptic, and close to strange things which men cannot see. He is the soul of antique Aegyptus, and bearer of tales from forgotten cities in Meroe and Ophir. He is the kin of the jungle’s lords, and heir to the secrets of hoary and sinister Africa. The Sphinx is his cousin, and he speaks her language; but he is more ancient than the Sphinx, and remembers that which she hath forgotten." - H. P. Lovecraft, The Cats of Ulthar

[@searchingfororion]

I don't have an amazing comment, but I wanted to say thank you for this fabulous citation.

[@irionuchiha3823]

@@searchingfororion your comment itself is fabulous enough, anything positive is more than enough

[@gregzotter6189]

Love the choice of quote: it's both topical and cultured.

[@searchingfororion]

@@irionuchiha3823 That's incredibly sweet. Thank you.

[@irionuchiha3823]

@@searchingfororion no sweat, just trying to make sure the positivity in this world doesn't die out 🙏🏽

[@Sate12]

In The Last Unicorn, the pirate cat explains that cats don't give straight answers. It's not a choice, it's just in their nature. The cat is trying to tell Coraline from the beginning how the Beldam will take her name and identity because humans tie so much of who they are to their name. This also means the Beldam has No Power over the cat. She can't trick it or steal its name away

[@spyro2002]

Funny you mention the mist cause here's an obscure fact for you: I'm greek and the greek transliteration of coraline is actually not called coraline it's called "The House in the mist". Now personally I only found out about coraline through the internet so I never actually had real experience with the greek version to comment on it more specifically. Basically what happened was I had watched the movie and wanted to get the book, and because I tried to get it from a local place I discovered that this transliterated version exists which took me by surprise because the movie was never dubbed in greek so I always assumed this particular piece of media just never came here. They did have an english section too in the book store which is where I got my copy of the book but I never stopped wondering about this greek version and why the changed the title to have the mist appear like a major part of the story when it really isn't at least the way the it's presented to us. And of course because I get crazy imaginations from tiny details ever since I found out about this greek version I can't stop thinking about the people out that most definitely exist that were just bookworms but never got into the internet culture and just have that version with the weird title be the one and only one for them not even knowing where it originates from and that thought intrigues me. Honestly I after writing all this I might have convinced myself to go buy the greek version too and see what's the deal with it.

[@searchingfororion]

That's really interesting considering that Neil Gaiman claims that 'Coraline' was due to a typo - he meant to write Caroline and wrote 'Coraline' instead and liked that better. That was his "official" statement regarding the name the last I heard. But then again this is Neil Gaiman we're talking about, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was under selling his own depth and nuance in a "children's" story.

[@spyro2002]

@@searchingfororion yeah when I learned that fact it surprised me too that he just apparently randomly managed to typo his way into an actual greek name.

[@searchingfororion]

@@spyro2002 Keep me posted when/if you read the other version - I'm really interested. As an individual stuck behind the wall of U.S nationalist focus the only things I know about your (modern) country are 1. It really sucks that you were left to sink over a currency debate as though it were hypothetical (when it had very real effects and people deserved better than treating the situation like I philosophical construct) - I honestly don't know how things have gone since then but I hope they have improved. 2. The cuisine is exquisite and highly underappreciated. Yes, feta is *amazing* but (I will not even attempt to try to spell it) the chicken and rice soup with lemon has brought me back to life more times than I can count. Feta and taziki sauce is delicious, but that soup (usually only found here in very small family owned places made by someone's dad - I know because the server always tells me that she'll let her dad know how much I'm enjoying it 😅) has healing properties that must have been passed down by the gods. ^ (I'm not making a cultural generalization with that statement, I'm pagan so I exclaim to the gods about many things. The fact that your country happens to have one of the most widely recognized and revered pantheons historically is a coincidence.) TLDR; I'd love to hear more about this alternate translation/perspective of the story with the cultural context accidental or otherwise despite my ignorant and goofy way of saying so, I'm very interested in your country and culture beyond the way our media depicts it (either permanently frozen in the Xenaverse or taking selfies at the Parthenon.)

[@spyro2002]

@@searchingfororion first of all thanks for your all your kind words about my country lol, it's honestly rare to see someone foreign that actually knows a thing or two about our culture that isn't just surface level information about our mythology. And yes I can confirm whenever someone gets sick here Kotosoupa is the first thing parents make to help them get better XD. I am a very slow reader so it might be months down the line, but I'll try to remember to tell you anything interesting I find in the greek version.

[@searchingfororion]

@@spyro2002 Kotosoupa! That's exactly what I was thinking of. Miraculous and brilliant invention I feel should be hailed equal to astronomy and so many other contributions to Western civilization. Of course you are very welcome regarding my comments (which I admitted were not the most enlightened but I try to be aware of the cultural vacuum of which I exist, therefore not play into stereotypes or assume that current residents mirror that which I studied academically - and left off - centuries ago). It's very kind of you to be so patient with me, and I'm glad we crossed paths. I'll have to look up a recipe for Kotosoupa - it definitely will not be the same as one handed down generation by generation and ladled by somebody's dad for that one *non-greek* customer that orders the soupa special (it honestly got to the point where they recognized my *car* and just waved me over to the table and food appeared without any words being exchanged because they could tell when I was there for the "magic soup" 😭🤣) - but still, some fasimile of it would do me well atm.

[@hobbitguy1420]

Not gonna lie, I heard all your evidence and my recurring thought is “Nah, that’s just normal for cats.”

[@pikapika7402]

What if all cats have this ability? It would explain where my sister’s cat goes when she disappears for weeks on end. Fun video Frank💜🖤

[@lyvectra8442]

The cat and the Other Mother are definitely equals, since she doesn't like the cat and actually treats him as some kind of threat because she keeps trying to lock him out. The Other Mother----the Beldam----is a spider. You know what cats eat other than mice? Spiders. I think the Other Mother is scared of the cat in some way. And the cat seems to only act in Coraline's interest, giving her information she needs to defeat the Other Mother. He has clearly studied the Other Mother for a long time, and knows her tricks. He is more Coraline's familiar than the Other Mother's, or at least a helpful companion. I think the cat mainly exists to act as a tie to the real world, grounding both Coraline and the reader in the fact that the real world still exists and the Other World isn't simply a dream that Coraline is having. If Coraline were dreaming up this Other World while she was asleep, then the cat would also be an "Other" (aka Dream) Cat that Coraline has imagined alongside this Other World. But it's not. It's the real cat. That means the Other World isn't something Coraline has imagined. And, of course, he serves the purpose of explaining lore and backstory about the Other World and Other Mother that Coraline can't discover herself.

[@9cloudrachel207]

I love that you are focusing on the book content! A lot of creators just do the movie, which is totally fine, but personally I want all the information I can get so I can form the clearest picture. Thank youuuuu! Excited to watch this. Seems like you put great work into this!

[@attitudeproblem6462]

That quote about names from the cat really struck me when I read it, too. Your name is probably the first building block of your identity. Knowing who you are w/o that? Yeah, that’s deep.

[@Werewolfoverlord12]

Here's the thing: the cat is probably a cosmic entity. BUT thats not a bad thing. Remember IT is a cosmic entity but so is The Turtle. They kill the Rats, and are no friend to the other mother, but i also feel like hes trying to protect Coraline. He might have tried before but failed, hence why he knows that place, and why he knows her resting there would be alright. I dont feel like he's there to hurt Coraline, but definitely feel like he's there to help her. No the beldam doesnt play fair, but what if tye game is the only way the soul stones become... removable from the other world? Like Coraline cant free the souls until the beldam risks them?

[@sgtshortstack578]

The whole "cat being an all encompassing being" thing makes me think of Schrodinger from Hellsing Ultimate. Telepathic, and somehow he's everywhere and nowhere. Also, the whole cat talking in her mind makes me think of Galadriel from LotR, mindspeak.

[@oceanic8270]

I recently read coraline, based on your recommendation. I never even knew that there was a book, and I loved it! Thank you so much, please keep doing speculation and theory videos on coraline :)

[@futurelazarus8217]

I really like the theory that the cat is a reincarnated version of one of the kids that escaped and is now tryn to help other kids escape

[@randallbesch2424]

Nice idea but it is no theory.

[@youcantspellbolognawithout4553]

The part where the cat says that creatures like him keep themselves together, I wonder if it’s trying to say that all other creatures, including humans, hide and conceal different parts of ourselves that we think we must control, and that those parts of us that we suppress manifest into our “other” selves in different worlds/realities. On the other hand, cats have no need for “other” selves because they don’t suppress anything and do what they want. Maybe that and the fact that they are so mysterious and thought to be magical is why they can travel freely through those places. 🧐 🐈‍⬛

[@0292-v7v]

just finished watching the video. great work and very aesthetically pleasing. i would love to hear a podcast between you and the author of the book. I think chances are high it could happen, if you wanted to. What's important to remember is that the author also writes subconsciously, there is beauty in speculating, interpreting and wondering.

[@witchypoo7353]

Honestly this cat just reminds me of cats in general, especially the one that will always be my best friend, even though he died over a decade ago, except Lloyd hated tummy rubs. He was too cool for that. But yeah, cats have always had a lot of spiritual & magical significance in several different lores. So I don’t think it’s a far fetch idea to imagine this cat as just being a regular cat, but most people don’t realize or have forgotten the magical qualities a cat possesses

[@MrRasta3600]

I have to wholeheartedly trust the cat merely because it's voiced by Keith David. 😂

[@Snow-Willow]

As someone who just enjoyed the movie and didn't even know there was more material outside of it, this was INCREDIBLY fascinating. Thank you for this very cool breakdown.

[@dranimations7902]

There is also Cat Bayun from fairytales which similar to this cat and the Cheshire Cat has the ability to speak, sing and tell stories and disappear and reappear as it pleases - and change shape.

[@lucideandre]

So, based on the idea that the corridor is, or is part of, some kind of cosmic horror-type creature, it makes it seem to me that the ability of the cat to move (almost) freely between worlds, to talk in the other world, but is also scared of and/or antagonistic towards other beings, are a sort of Lovecraftian thing. Considering that Neil Gaiman himself likes and writes stories that include elements of Lovecraftian horror, this also makes sense. In Lovecraft’s stories, cats also are able to move between worlds. In the Dream World they’re able to fly and talk, and they even at one point go to war against some blob monsters. But they’re also afraid of some other more powerful creatures. So the cat in Coraline seems to have similar powers and freedom in relation to different realms.

[@feyfox8005]

The idea that this cat is fey actually makes me love him more. Thank you for this fantastic perspective. Really well done video.

[@its_lazy_river]

Just in case you guys don't know the graphic novel is made by the same person who wrote coraline which means this theory isn't so far stretched

[@The_Mushroom_Frog28]

When I recently saw The Nightmare Before Christmas again,I saw the cat in the start of the film (I think)and just shouted aloud:"Hey,that's the cat from Coraline!"

[@SergioLeonardoCornejo]

Considering the cat wants to stop the Other Mother, whatever he is, he isn't that bad.

[@deltaloraine]

Yeah the cat is definitely a cosmic entity of some kind. As for his motives, I think he simply thrives off of freedom, curiosity, and exploration, just like Coraline. He seems to have lived a long time and becomes interested when theres something new to observe. At first he saw Coraline as just another victim falling into the Beldam's hands. But when he saw that she had the strength and resolve to fight back, it peeked his interest enough to follow her around and see what she's doing. We know that he and the Beldam have a history, and I think he saw Coraline as a way to toy with the Beldam and get back at her for something, which may...or may not... help Coraline escape. His motives weren't very pure in the beginning. He was using her more for fun than anything. But over time I think he truly came to respect her, especially after fighting their way out of the Other Realm to get to safety. So i'd say he isn't malicious or scary, just a mischievous teleporting entity who got humbled by a young kid saving his ass from a collapsing dimension lmao.

[@prettyxbonez96]

*Spot on

[@eve5226]

I always wondered if he was a neutral character who had an attitude. Plus, the other mother and the cat do not get along. I wonder if they've ever had turf wars. He seems to care for Wybe (?) in the movie, and I think he started to care about Caroline too. He kind of led Coraline to her parents, but I'm not sure if it was for nefarious reasons.

[@catpoke9557]

If the cat likes to play with prey because it has a chance to escape, then it would make perfect sense for the cat to think that a possible way Coraline could survive the situation would be to play a game with the other mother. That sounds like an attempt at helping rather than harming.

[@Schneb1995]

Referring to the movie Coraline, I believed the theory that the cat IS the corridor, (or the Void as I call it) and this ancient being, took the form of a cat to keep in tabs with both the real and other world. (The other mother doesn't know this.) He seems to know so much about the other world. He can only speak in said world. He looks at Coraline as the new other mother, but by the end of the movie, he grows fond of her. And he seems quite happy when she threw the key down the well, he holds it and will wait for his next prey. I mean that's just what I think before I found this video.

[@tayloranderson7547]

Void as call it ) and SpongeBob movies on Netflix from a cat to keep it in tub real in the other world the other mother it seems to know much about the world he's the only speaks in the world. He looks at Caroline and the other mother and quote movie he found on her and he seems quite happy she threw the key down the world he held it in whoa this next prey I mean that's just what I think before finding this video

[@little_kitty48]

But in the case that the cat *is* the corridor why would he act so afraid of it during the travel through it. Also why would the cat be afraid when the portals disappeared, if its him? Surely he would know he would be fine because he's not really the cat but the entity itself. I'm curious about your answers ^^

[@skzanarchist]

however this theory is challenged by the fact that the cat appears so afraid and scared while walking through the portal

[@Schneb1995]

@@little_kitty48 Him being afraid could just be reactionary. He just wants to remain a cat to find his future prey to optimize the void. Possible he was acting scared to not let Coraline know. Again this is only referring to the movie Coraline, for I'm not familiar with the book versions. Thanks for being curious. I'm not an expert at theorizing, but I try my best when I have an idea.

[@Schneb1995]

@@skzanarchist Him being afraid could just be reactionary. Read my reply to little_kitty4964. Since these two questions are the same.

[@cosmicstoryteller3611]

On the point of telepathy, there’s a point in the book when Coraline and the cat are escaping from the Beldam where she’s carrying the cat and we get this passage. ‘The cat stirred uncomfortably in Coraline’s arms, as if it wanted to get down. _Just stay there for a few moments longer,_ she thought at it, wondering if it could hear her. _I’ll get us both home. I said I would. I promise._ She felt the cat relax ever so slightly in her arms.’

[@emilyarmstrong-hinson1159]

Most magical/fantasy universes embrace the idea of some animals having magical qualities, for instance: The Cats of Ulthar by Lovecraft. So many myths talk of cats as witch fameliers, teleporting, and are special somehow. I think this cat is an old and wise traveler cat. A trickster god who comes and goes as he pleases, and knows he cannot be trapped where he doesnt want. Who knows how to travel the dimensions etc. A street cat but....eldritch. :)

[@randallbesch2424]

Nyarlathotep fits the bill for a trickster and finds us of interesting.

[@bdariamihaela]

OMG OMG OMG YESSSSSS I WAITED SO LONG FOR ANOTHER CORALINE VIDEO

[@vinnie3731]

YES, I LOVE YOUR CORALINE VIDEOS!!! They're what got me into your channel, and it was just recently too, so to have a new Coraline video so soon after getting into you is so cool!!

[@catpoke9557]

I feel like he's actually a regular cat. I think it's going with the implication common in media that cats, especially black cats, are mystical creatures. I am guessing all cats or at least all black cats are like this. I think the reason it speaks telepathically in the books is because unlike the other creatures in the other world, the cat is from the NORMAL world. Cats can't normally talk.

[@kathrynhoward3303]

there is a theory that the cat used to be a child/adult who fell down the well and was the first victem of the beldam and trys to help kids and prevent them from the same sad fate as the other kids

[@aarons6935]

"The theorizer" did an insanely indepth video on the cat and every aspect of Coralline

[@slickkid2367]

I like to think the cat is someone who has passed through the door ever since it’s existence and has learned purely from observing, being somewhat of a guardian and observant of the door and it’s victims

[@rita8274]

It's so interesting to me that the creators of Caroline would like to delve deeper into the lore but haven't gotten much support. Especially considering how much people love it.

[@sandybrown5970]

The cat is like your grandpa giving wisdom to young people

[@tapuchris3329]

This video will be one of those videos that I will never get tired of watching.

[@caryshughesarts]

The cat sounding like the voice in her head could also be that the voice of the cat matches that of her inner monologue. Could imply that the cat can get in her head and use a familiar voice to appear more trustworthy to coralline

[@jasminegodin1095]

"There are those who have suggested that the tendency of a cat to play with its prey is a merciful one. afterall, it permits the occasional funny little running snack to escape from time to time, how often does your dinner get to escape?" Chills

[@RedRoseSeptember22]

I've met kitties that allowed immediate belly rubs, I just assumed kitty was super friendly and wanted rubs lol :P I can't resist a fluffy kitty belly!!!

[@ItsShaz1]

Love these Coraline videos!

[@Panda_Roll]

In other words, the cat was being catty that day. I just couldn't help it, I'll show myself out...

[@ryanhernandez5632]

Perhaps the whole situation is a more of a cat and mouse game then we thought? We think of the beldam, corridor beast, and the cat as connected only through the other world but perhaps the playing with your prey quote is a bigger hint then we thought. And it's a bigger game of hunter and the hunted. Also a interesting thought in itself mybe the beldam has forgotten who she is, and overtime deformed into the spider creature we saw.

[@MrDj232]

My cat welcomes belly rubs. It's a trap to bring your hands in biting range.

[@aruin4069]

Thank you so much for the subtitles, and just the overall production and effort you put into this, I really appreciate it ❤❤❤

[@jeramiethegreat987]

I always liked the theory that the story was tied with Sandman (another Neil Gaiman story) and the cat was dream, and the Beldam was an escaped Nightmare.

[@percivalpendragon4985]

Just when you think Coraline couldn't get any deeper

[@crwydryny]

Honestly this makes me want to write a modern fairy tale based around the old Brythonic Celtic mythology

[@theresamiley8917]

One of the best children’s books I’ve ever read.

[@ninafritschay6838]

I feel like the cat is playing with the other mother. The reason why the cat wants coraline to play the game with the beldame but still helps coraline in the process i feel like is because the cat wants to win against (or eat, or whatever the cats intentions are) the other mother. So in this theory coraline is the bug (just like in Karsten Runquists "The Coraline Bug Theory") the beldrame the spider and the cat the cat. Which ultimately would mean the cat does not necessarily have bad intentions for coraline but uses and needs her as prey for the other mother in order to catch the other mother himself. This would also explain the rivalry between the cat and the other mother or actually why the mother calls the cat vermin. The cat could also like many pointed out just be bored but i think that the fact the mother calls him vermin implies a bit more than just the cat interfering a bit. The only thing that confuses me and does not particularly line up with the theory is the line he says (and abitfrank points out) "there are those who have suggested that the tendency of a cat to play with its prey is a merciful one. Afterall it permits the occasional funny little running snack to escape from time to time". This might just mean that the cat just wants the other mother to "hunt" responsably through giving the children a chance and maybe there is not more to this. (note: i just realized it sais occasional snack so where is the cat getting his food normally? And does this imply that the mother is also just snacking on those kids and does actually not need them to survive?) Wether the cat has good or bad intention towards coraline still does not come through imo but they are probably for a greater cause i think wether it be destroying the beldam or whatever. Plus Neil's purpose for the book supposedly was to teach his daughter what happens to dead cats so i dont think the cat was meant to be of bad character.

[@stoopidturtle3193]

I remember watching this movie when I was 3, loved it, and then read the book when I was 9. I never knew that there were so many hidden things until now...

[@bluelavender01]

Can you maybe make a theory about what happens if the Pink Palace is destroyed? will the corridor, portals, and beldam possibly dissapear?

[@Jellybean-yy1bw]

I love Abitfrank’s sweet voice, it’s the perfect one for giving me the creep I need wrapped in a tone sweet enough to keep me from being scared! Just unnerved by the notions they bring to mind for me to contemplate! Creepy contemplations for all year round! 😃

[@andrewrobinson4019]

One could, if so dramatically inclined, argue that “book, film, and graphic novel” *is* a sort of pudding. This was another lovely addition to your Coraline treatments-please keep them coming as you are able!

[@prophetkat]

I have/had cats that like belly rubs. Mostly chubby, fluffy male cats. They warm up to people fast, especially women. So not unreasonable to me for the cat to let her rub his belly after a while.

[@chart6454]

Reading all of Gaiman’s work it’s quite clear that he regards ALL cats as magical and otherworldly.

[@roroomauras_pr]

I believe I heard a theory once saying that perhaps the cat was a normal kid who also fell into the Beldam's grasp but somehow barely managed to escape. The ghost children in the spanish book version calles her "a witch" so therefore she could possibly have converted him into a black cat. He being a kid who barely escaped could explain why he knows so much of the Beldam's games and tricks🤷‍♀️

[@edidk7298]

hey, i just found your channel and your art is incredible! the thumbnail gave me chills and old scary story book nostalgia. this is the kind of horror that needs more appreciation, the art form.

[@michellehanson984]

The cat always makes me think of a bit in one of Patricia C Wrede's Enchanted Forest books - the two main characters and the (good) witch are trapped behind a magical barrier and the witch's cat just strolls right through it. When asked the witch can only shrug and say, "Cats are just like that."

[@funny_cat8631]

I feel like Coraline was meant to have a sequel since of just how many things we don't know yet, like the portals to other worlds, the mysterious black cat origin world and the pond where the other mother's hand fell into like it could be another portal. So much potential and since the producers executed the movie almost perfectly, it just felt like it was meant to have a sequel in my opinion.

[@0292-v7v]

truly scary movie - who can you even trust :(

[@atalante1853]

Funny thing: I live in germany and when listening to fantasy stories or old folklore fairys and mist often are vonnected to people getting lost in the woods and falling into the mean and trickster fairys traps.

[@TheNonameHousehold]

I would love a series just tackling the cat but also a little of the movie's aftermath with Coraline♡ like a Slice of Life Drama kinda thing... those events would have been very psychologically traumatic to Coraline! I bet she can't even be around needles, dolls and especially clothing buttons 🪡🕸🐈‍⬛

[@gcfalconi]

Love the video! Just as a note, one of my cats does in fact belly flop and roll around for bellyrubs from pretty much anyone, stranger or not (orange cat tho, so yk. Theyre built different 😂)

[@EliosMoonElios]

My theory is: The Monster create the Cat as a independent part to get rip of the Parasite in it's guts(The Other Mother), that is why the cat help and lure Coraline to fight the Other Mother.

[@Mari_PL]

Your editing is truly unique! So well made 😌

[@ergoleon2970]

Just found your channel and subscribed. Very majestically made content and super adorable animations allowing for the spontaneous scary art to hit deeper❤

[@osheridan]

I saw this theory that the cat was the Other World embodied, and that Coraline never escaped the Other World at all. This fandom has so many interesting theories honestly!

[@dandaman0196]

The cat isn't necessarily malicious, but it's on equal footing with the other mother, the cat survives off of the other mother's mice, and the other mother survives off of the children. If the other mother catches the kids, then there will be more mice for the cat to catch I think the cat made an exception for coraline or for the sake of being chaotic neutral tried to help Coraline escape It's like a separate entity which feeds off of the other mother, the cat doesn't belong to her but sort of mooches off of her.