Jalal the Paw is Varjak’s ancestor and role model. In Varjak’s dreams about Jalal, he appears as “an old cat with silver-blue fur like starlight” —a celestial simile that conveys his majesty. One of Jalal’s key traits is his valor. He’s first introduced through the Elder Paw’s tales of how he “fought the fiercest warrior cats,” proved himself as “the mightiest hunter,” and traveled from Mesopotamia to the Contessa’s house in London (7). During his meetings with Varjak, Jalal proves to be “a stern teacher” who puts his descendant through rigorous training (77). The Seven Skills of the Way that Jalal teaches Varjak combine wisdom with life skills. For example, he instills a deep respect for life in Varjak while teaching him how to hunt: “Remember: you may cause harm only when there is no alternative, only when your life is at stake. You take enough, and no more” (110). Jalal is characterized as a valiant warrior and a wise and inspiring teacher.

Jalal exerts a profound influence on the protagonist’s growth and the novel’s themes. Said demonstrates the impact of heritage on personal development as Varjak’s ancestor passes on his mystical abilities, such as slowing down time and turning invisible. Jalal also teaches Varjak that “[t]he only thing that counts is what you do” (218), not the pedigree that his living relatives prize. The lessons that Varjak gains in his dreams of Jalal are essential to his actions in the waking world. For example, Jalal paves the way for the climax and resolution by encouraging the main character to trust himself, which gives Varjak the confidence to rescue Holly and the other street cats. As a mentor figure, Jalal is essential to the success of Varjak’s heroic journey.

Holly is Varjak’s best friend. The street cat has “spiky black-and-white-fur and mustard-coloured eyes” (70). Even though she appears “about the same age” as Jalal, she has a hardened look about her that suggests “she’d seen too much of the world already” (70). Holly’s appearance, like her initially prickly and guarded personality, reflects the hardships she experiences in the city. Behind Holly’s “invisible barrier,” she is dependable, caring, and protective. Tam describes her as “the best friend you could have” and Holly proves these words true by saving Varjak’s life several times throughout the story (84). Holly uses her powers of observation to survive on the streets of London, and this same skill helps her to find a way to stop the black cats when even Varjak’s fighting prowess proves insufficient. In the climactic showdown, Varjak notes that “at the edge of his vision, he [sees] a flash of black-and-white fur. A gravelly voice. ‘The collars!’” (240). Holly’s resilience, kindness, and cleverness make her a valuable ally on Varjak’s quest.

As one of the novel’s most important supporting characters, Holly’s street smarts and knowledge of the city allow her to guide Varjak through this new setting and to provide him with key exposition about the gangs and Vanishings. Holly is a dynamic character who gradually learns to trust Varjak despite her initial opinion that friends are “not worth having” (84). She also contributes to the theme of loyalty by becoming Varjak’s best friend and offering him a sense of belonging unlike anything he’s ever experienced. As Holly and Varjak learn to trust each other, “Varjak [feels] something he’d never felt before. Or rather, he [doesn’t] feel something. He [doesn’t] feel alone anymore” (140). Although Varjak betrays Holly shortly before the novel’s climax, he redeems himself and saves her in a decisive moment that underscores the power of friendship and loyalty. Holly also exemplifies the theme of Courage in the Face of Challenges, particularly when she resolves to “go down fighting” alongside her friends in their final confrontation with the Gentleman (246). Holly figures prominently in the novel’s happy ending, and Varjak’s decision to return to the city with her emphasizes the importance of found family.

The Gentleman is the novel’s antagonist. Said offers the following description when he first arrives in the Contessa’s house: “Two shiny black shoes. Each big as a cat. Coming through the door.[…] Up a pair of legs, up some more, he saw huge white hands, huge enough to hold his whole body, strong enough to break his neck” (13). The Gentleman’s height and physical strength hint at the threat that he poses to Varjak and his family. Adding to the sense of mystery and danger around the character, he’s the only human who figures prominently in the narrative, and his name is never revealed, reinforcing the narrative lens of the story from Varjak’s point of view. Despite his fearsome might, the Gentleman often uses manipulation rather than brute force to achieve his objectives. For example, he wins over most of Varjak’s relatives by giving them a toy mouse and caviar: “‘Treats like this are only given to the finest pedigree cats,’ purr[s] Father. ‘The Gentleman knows how important we are’” (22). The Gentleman’s gifts disguise his menacing plot to turn hundreds of cats, including the Mesopotamian Blues, into mechanical toys. Although Said never fully reveals the Gentleman’s motivation, Holly suggests that it stems from a desire for control at odds with cats’ natural free-spiritedness: “People like toy cats better than real cats […] No looking after. They do what you want. They’re always nice and cute. Not like us” (157). The Gentleman’s manipulative, menacing, and controlling ways make him a fearsome foe for the young feline protagonist.

As the story’s villain, the Gentleman is essential to the novel’s structure and themes. His arrival is the inciting incident that disrupts the familiar routine inside the Contessa’s house and propels the protagonist to journey Outside. Said also uses his character details to plant clues—such as the Vanishings and toys—for solving the novel’s central mystery. Varjak’s final confrontation with the Gentleman serves as the story’s climax, and the happy ending is secured when Cludge guarantees, “Man gone now […] Won’t come back” (251). The Gentleman gives the protagonist opportunities to fight through his fear, underscoring the novel’s thematic interest in Courage in the Face of Challenges. In the end, the Gentleman’s inability to master his own fear leads to his downfall: “He [can] do anything. And yet even he, with all his power, [has] something he [is] scared of, something he [can’t] face. And faced with Cludge, the Gentleman [becomes] like a little boy, lost and frightened and all alone” (248). The Gentleman contributes to the protagonist’s growth and emphasizes the importance of facing challenges with courage.

Julius Paw is Varjak’s older brother. He’s larger than the protagonist and is often depicted “flexing his muscles” (7). Julius relies on his physical strength and violence to impose his will on others, such as when he overthrows his father and forcibly takes his place as head of the family. Although he wants the status that accompanies the position, he’s an apathetic leader who dismisses his relatives’ concerns about the changes occurring in the Contessa’s house. From the very first chapter, Julius demonstrates his capacity for cruelty by antagonizing his little brother and claiming that Varjak doesn’t belong among his family. Near the end of the novel, Julius reveals the cowardice under his bravado when he refuses to join Varjak in rescuing Holly but cries for his brother when the Gentleman seizes him: “Varjak! Varjak! Help!” (245). Julius’s cruelty and violence characterize him as a bully, and his cowardice and apathy mark him as ill-equipped to lead the Paw family well.

Julius’s antagonistic relationship with his younger brother advances the novel’s themes and motifs. Julius reserves some of his cruelest comments for Varjak’s amber eyes, which serve as a motif of the theme of heritage. He claims that Varjak isn’t a true Mesopotamian Blue because his eyes are the “colour of danger” (31). Messages like this contribute to the self-doubt that plagues Varjak for much of the story. As a result, defeating Julius marks a milestone for the protagonist’s personal development: “The victory tasted sweet, like cinnamon. He’d done it at last. He was a Mesopotamian Blue” (206). Besting Julius helps Varjak reclaim his pride in his heritage and build confidence in himself. Ultimately, Julius learns from his mistakes. By the end of the novel, he goes from belittling Varjak to voicing his gratitude for his brother’s heroism and acknowledging him as the rightful head of the family. Julius tries to crush the protagonist’s confidence, but his insults ultimately motivate Varjak to prove himself.