H.P. Lovecraft’s “The Rats in the Walls” is an uncomfortable story, but not really for the reasons the prolific author originally intended. Although the story is among Lovecraft’s most discussed, it’s difficult for many people to get past the narrator’s cat’s undeniably racist name. Thankfully, in the year of our Lord 2020, we finally have the technology to rename cats at a whim (and really, what greater joy in life is there than naming a cat?).
Enter a name below and click Name the Cat! to re-experience one of Lovecraft’s most important short stories, but with a bit less racism. Warning: The story may still contain dated attitudes and insensitive terminology that have not aged well over the last century. But at least the cat can have a normal name!