Getting Started With A Practical Cat-Themed Tarot Deck
The Tarot Of Pagan Cats Mini Deck is a smaller-format version of Lisa Hunt's well-known Pagan Cats deck. It follows the standard 78-card RWS structure with major and minor arcana. The cards measure roughly 4 by 7 centimeters, which makes them noticeably smaller than a full-size deck. I picked one up years ago mostly because the box fit on my shelf, and I ended up using it more than I expected. The set contains 78 cards printed on cardstock with a matte finish. A small paperback booklet sits alongside it containing a guide to each card's meaning. The artwork stays true to Hunt's original style — cats in pastoral, nature-heavy scenes that correspond to each traditional tarot position. Nothing unusual here. It's a standard themed interpretation of the Rider-Waite-Smith system. One thing most sellers don't mention upfront: these cards run slightly stiff out of the package. The mini format uses a thicker core board than full-size versions. If you plan to shuffle immediately, give it a week of gentle handling first. The cards will soften and become more manageable.
How To Use It For Readings
The deck works exactly like any other RWS-based system. The imagery on each card maps directly to traditional symbolism. You can pull a single card for daily insight, lay out a three-card spread for past present and future, or use the Celtic Cross if you want something more involved. The smaller size actually helps with one-on-one readings because the cards sit closer to the querent. They can see the details without leaning in. I ran into a specific problem early on that isn't obvious from the product description. The mini format means card backs are much harder to align when doing riffle shuffles. The first few times I tried, the cards kept splitting unevenly. My workaround was simple: I switched to overhand shuffles exclusively and only riffled about once a week during cleaning. This took longer but eliminated the frustration of constantly gathering scattered cards. Most people who buy this deck never learn that trick and just deal with it badly. The guidebook is compact. It covers upright meanings for each card and a brief section on reversals. I found the major arcana descriptions solid. The minor arcana entries, especially the court cards, felt rushed. The page count doesn't allow for deep exploration of each figure. If you need detailed court card interpretations, you'll want to supplement with another source.
Common Mistakes Beginners Make
The biggest error I see is assuming the cat imagery changes the fundamental meaning of the cards. It doesn't. A cat in the Tower card still represents sudden disruption. A cat in the Two of Cups still represents partnership. The animal theme adds mood and aesthetic context but the symbolism layer stays the same as any standard RWS deck. Don't try to invent new meanings based solely on the cat imagery. That path leads to confused spreads. Another issue is storage. These cards fold faster than full-size versions because the paper core is thinner relative to the smaller dimensions. I learned this after one of my first decks developed a permanent crease down the middle from being stored flat in a drawer. Keep it in the included box or a rigid card case. Sliding it into a pocket or loose bag will ruin it within months. Some readers also complain that the smaller card size makes it hard to read the miniature text on certain cards, especially in low light. The Moon card and the Wheel of Fortune have particularly dense text elements. You'll want decent lighting or a magnifying glass if you regularly do detailed card-by-card analysis. This is the main practical limitation of the format and it affects every reading where close examination matters.
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Where It Falls Short
This deck is fine for casual or intermediate readers. It is not ideal for serious collectors who want archival quality materials, nor is it suited for professional readers who do back-to-back sessions daily. The card stock will show wear within a year of heavy use. The print quality is adequate but not sharp at this scale. Detailed border work gets a bit muddy when you hold a four-centimeter card at arm's length. If you already own the full-size Pagan Cats deck, buying the mini version is redundant unless you specifically want a portable option. The content is nearly identical. If you're starting fresh and want a deck that can handle daily abuse, consider a full-size deck with plastic-coated card stock instead. That said, for someone who wants a themed deck at a lower price point or needs something that fits in a small bag, this works well enough.
Where To Find It
You can typically order the Tarot Of Pagan Cats Mini Deck through major online retailers like Amazon, specialty metaphysical shops, or direct from the publisher's website. Pricing usually runs between fifteen and twenty-five dollars depending on the retailer. Shipping times vary. If you're buying from a third-party seller, check the listing carefully to confirm you're getting the mini version and not accidentally ordering the standard deck. Sellers sometimes list both in the same product family and the descriptions get confusing. There is no official digital download of the physical cards. Any site claiming to offer a free PDF of the full deck is distributing pirated material. The artwork belongs to Lisa Hunt and the publisher. Stick to legitimate retail channels. Overall, it's a functional deck with a clear niche. Small size, cat art, traditional structure. It won't change how you read tarot, but it gets the job done for people who want something portable and visually distinct without paying for premium materials.
