In many cultures, cats are recognized as symbols of good luck and prosperity. It is a common belief that they attract fortune and bring balance to one’s life. Even though Western folklore fears black cats, in other cultures, such as Scottish, British or Japanese, they are actually a sign of good luck.
The gambling world has been exploring such ideas as well by integrating the cat symbol’s lucky side into slot themes. Slot developers align gamblers’ wishes for good luck with the belief that cats can always land on their feet.
Sometimes, providers also curate special promotions for these cat slots, and a mid-tier offer like 50 free spins no deposit is enough to test several of them across a session before committing any money. So, feline lovers can try out some of these cute options without having to deposit.
If you don’t know where to start with the various cat slot machine options, this article will help you find the best alternative. We will explore some popular slots and what kind of gambling sessions you can get from them.
The Tie Between Feline Luck and Gambling Luck
Before we go into the examples of slots, let us give you an overview of how cat luck ties in perfectly with how slot machines work. Remember that playing is about having fun, and minimizing gambling risk is the best way to enjoy any type of slot.
When it comes to slot machines, some people believe it’s possible to use strategies to win. Some players want to stop the reels at a specific point, while others switch between bets to trigger wins.
In reality, slots have a mechanic called RNG (random number generator), which ensures fairness when it comes to the outcome of your bets. This means the algorithm is purely random and doesn’t account for any strategies.
The RNG decides the result of your bet as soon as you press the spin button. Therefore, the slot reflects the concept of cats’ luck. Whether your bet is successful or not is entirely based on luck, with no other external factors.
In slots that depict cat symbols, they are meant to provide a comforting feeling to the player, making them think that luck is on their side. Players see the cat totem and might believe it’s a lucky charm protecting their gameplay.
Even if the presence of a cat next to your reels is a very adorable addition, you shouldn’t forget that nothing can influence whether you win or not. This is why, when choosing a slot, in addition to looking at the theme and design, you should also consider the mechanics and features to see if they are suitable.
Let’s take a look at some examples of cat slot machines and what they can provide to your gameplay.
OMG! Kittens
If you’re looking for a game that evokes the cuddliness side of cats, then OMG! Kittens from WMS might just be the best choice for you. With a 95.95% RTP, this game falls just a little below the average RTP of 96% of the gambling industry.
Unlike other slots that only use cats as an occasional symbol, OMG! Kittens brings you a theme focused only on cute felines. You’ll meet Tiger, Bubbles and Mr. Whiskers, who are three baby cats resembling fully stacked symbols counted as one when landing on your reels.
Other symbols include the FISHCAT scatter, which pays on any reel position. There are also low-paying symbols that depict aspects from the feline world, like a cute collar, milk and a ball of yarn.
Exotic Cats
Exotic Cats from Games Global brings you to the world of the jungle and wild animals. You won’t encounter the domestic side of cats, but you will encounter their wild nature with lions, panthers and tigers.
This slot has medium volatility, meaning you will get a mix of frequent small wins and rare big wins. So, this characteristic furthers the adventure-like theme, which is also amplified by the expanding wild of the ferocious leopard that appears on your reels.
In terms of characteristics, you should know that its max bet is 30 and its minimum bet is 0.15. This is a suitable game if you have a stricter budget and you don’t want to overspend.
Feline Fury
If you’re more keen on the medieval aesthetic, you should look into Feline Fury from Play’n Go. Since the volatility is medium-high, this adventure-like slot with cats and quests is truly going to unleash a thrill.
The most advantageous symbols in the game are the 4 cat wilds that can be triggered at any given time. All versions of these symbols can pay 10x your bet for 5 on a payline.
If you get the Fury Reels feature, the animation becomes truly engaging as burning arrows will start coming towards your reels. Once you get one of the cat wilds in a fire-framed reel, it expands on the whole area of the reel, which can lead to a big payout if you get up to 5 wild reels.
Other characteristics include a free spins bonus feature and a maximum bet of 100, suitable for high rollers. If you do have a smaller budget, then you can also lower your bet amount to 0.20 since that’s the minimum.
Kat-Ching
Take a trip with an Asian culture-inspired slot where you’ll meet the maneki-neko, a Japanese figurine that is believed to bring good luck to whoever owns it. Apart from the cat symbol, this game transports you to a Japanese traditional pond house, in which the reels are positioned.
The game offers a fast-paced, high-volatility session, meaning you’ll get rare big wins. The wagers are suitable for both new players and high-stakes gamblers, with a minimum of $0.2 and a maximum of $100.
The game features are also engaging because you have a chance to redeem up to 30 free spins. Remember that the Wild symbol can trigger 10, 16 or 30 free spins, which you can enjoy in the maneki-neko world.
Book of Cats Megaways
Now, we’re switching to a more sacred view of the cat through Book of Cats Megaways by BGaming. This Egyptian-themed slot has an RTP of 96.95%, which is slightly higher than the industry average of 96%.
Remember that this kind of theme is already very popular among gamblers, and adding the lucky cat symbols makes even more people want to play it. It also has a bonus buy feature that doubles your chance at winning.
Apart from the engaging symbols from the ancient world, this game also has some nice features like free spins, multipliers and expanding symbols that can take your session to the next level!
Cats and Cash
If you’re looking for a more luxurious experience, Cats and Cash from Play’n Go offers an appealing gameshow-like aesthetic. The symbols include the aristocratic and rich cats, presents, cash, gold and diamonds.
The volatility is medium, and the game offers an autoplay option that lets you sit back and relax while the spins roll on your screen.
There is also an interesting feature that you find very engaging. You’ll win a chance to select a box from which a present will eventually come to you, and the prizes vary from 25 to 10000 credits.
Conclusions
Cats act as a lucky symbol in various cultures, so game developers thought that it would be great to tap into these beliefs and link them to the nature of slots. Since gambling is a game of chance, the cat symbol serves as a comforting figure, boosting players’ confidence when placing bets.
In an article regarding the effects of belief in good luck on gambling behavior, the author reveals that “an erroneous perception of the randomness of gambling can lead to the illusion of control, and this illusion of control is the thought that gambling requires some kind of skill and that a gambler can predict or determine the result of gambling”.
However, it’s very important to remember that you cannot predict bet outcomes, as slots use random number generators (RNGs). So, make sure you play responsibly at all times, while keeping in mind that no external factors can determine whether you win or not.
