Catalyst

In a future where specially bred Barque Cats serve aboard spacecraft, a prized pregnant cat named Chessie is stolen from a veterinary clinic. Her kittens prove even more unusual, especially one who forms a telepathic bond with a lonely boy.

As a strange disease threat spreads and governments move to impound or destroy exposed animals, cats, humans, and a mysterious alien-looking cat are pulled into a widening crisis. The story follows both cat and human perspectives as loyalties shift, families split, and various groups try to recover the stolen cat and protect the others.

The danger escalates into a race against time, with the cats’ bond to their humans becoming central to survival. The narrative builds toward a rescue effort and a confrontation with larger forces that may determine the fate of the Barque Cats and many other animals.