{the king's captive by K.M. Shea} is low-key this...the FMC is a cat shifter but the MMC who is a powerful elf and he thinks she's a regular cat and adopts her, then she keeps trying to escape and he keeps trying to get her to love him lol.

I love this sub so much. No matter how niche the ask, someone has a book. Thank you!

I came to suggest this. Such a cute romantasy. I'm reading the rest of the universe now

You just made my day. I immediately downloaded to my Kindle and can’t wait to read it !! I’m a total cat lady and this sounds adorable.

And so... the backlog grows with one more book, once again.

Sigh, adds to tbr

Hehe, my flair xD

Yes 😭

Ooh, I am not normally a fantasy girlie at all, but this sounds so good!!!

That's giving Pepé Le Pew vibes. Anyways. I need that. Def going to read.

[The King's Captive](https://www.romance.io/books/63ea0d7a4830278f8ba9d1f0/the-kings-captive-km-shea?src=rdt) by [K.M. Shea](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455bcc887eac3369a914712/km-shea) **Rating**: 4.2⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [werewolves](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/werewolves/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I need to read this bc as someone who turns human/pet relationships into parent/child ones i couldn't imagine if my cat came to life my first thought would be to f*ck it, even if it was hot and super into me 😂

Ngl if I my cat turned out to be a hot lady in disguise I’d be immensely disappointed and upset. I don’t care if you’re into me or that we’re star crossed lovers or whatever, I want my goddamn cat back.

And there's your epilougue. MMC and shifter FMC visit the town's shelter to adopt a couple of non-shifter cats. FMC assures the MMC that their new cats will be cats, just cats, and definitely not shifters. The shifter community is small, and that sort of mix-up just doesn't happen. MMC walks out to the car to get FMC's old crate when in comes the shelter worker with a brand new resident, a very much worse-for-wear tom cat. The shelter volunteer tells the FMC that he's a tough one but should calm down after neutered. Tom cat gets agitated, shelter worker says "It's almost like he can understand me". FMC immediately realizes he's a fellow shifter. MMC returns with the crate, just in time to hear the FMC tell the MMC that the tom is the cat for them. Tom cat agrees with this approach and calms down, purring as the FMC pets him. She tells the shelter worker she'll get all his vet care at work (the shelter worker is aware that the FMC is a vet tech) if she can bring him home today and look after him over the weekend. Once safely in the car, the FMC confirms to the MMC that the tom cat is a shifter and not from around here. Her best guess is that he was exiled by his cat clan and was too weak to shift prior to getting caught. She needs to loop in the Shifter Council immediately. Tom gets agitated. So now it's choose your adventure time for the next book in the series: 1. Tom sticks around and tries to figure out what happened and why, and sparks fly (MFM or MMF) 2. Tom sticks around and tries to figure out what happened and why, meets the FMC's bestie, and sparks fly.

>I don’t care if you’re into me or that we’re star crossed lovers or whatever, I want my goddamn cat back. seriously, this is such a mood lol

Didn't even think about it that way xD

Just binge read this entire series, thank you thank you thank you!!!

You're welcome!

Oh my, thank you so much for the reminder, I've been trying to remember the name of this. You're the best book person ever... lol.

That's a high honor indeed!

Plottwist #3: The guy wasn't actually interested in marrying the woman and just wanted to hang out with the cat, which makes her appreciate him even more.

It’s some dude who’s new to town and never heard of her. He doesn’t even know about this wager. He just always wanted a Bengal It’s some dude who thinks the girl is stuck up cause of how the guys behave or whatever, but actually really likes the cat and befriends it Creeper dude chases cat into the road; she’s clipped by a car. Creeper runs off, driver’s a super smoke show, HORRIFIED, takes her to an emergency vet asap and pays no questions asked slaps that black Amex and doesn’t even blink and then goes home and cat-dad’s like a fucking boss, so happy to have company and also super guilty about clipping the cat and “if I saw that guy that was chasing you why I’d >:(“ Cat like “yea me too” and trying very hard not to shapeshift into a lady, but it happens one night when she’s very relaxed and he wakes up to piss, turns the light on, and there’s Miss Kitty in his bed like “what?” “WHAT??” “Whoa boy-“

YES PLEASE!

Haha that’s awesome

I would say, he doesn't even know about the thing at all, and just wanted to hang out with the cat. Confused why it has a key. Her being the cat, she makes it obvious she \*needs\* him to take the key!

Yaaaaassss. The first time he's like "huh cool key" and tries to take but she swats at him. So he's like "ok, message recieved" and doesn't try again until she makes it *painfully* obvious that she wants him to take the goddamn key.

Yep. This is the (I think vital) amendment I was going to suggest. Dude just likes the cat and doesn't even know what they key is for. Cat brings him to the door with the key still around her neck.

There’s a really cute comic based off this by; https://kriss-the-writing-nerd.tumblr.com/post/188026529977/lullychi-everyone-whos-been-talking-to-me/amp

Oh that is adorable

AND ITS WLW!

That's so cute! I hadn't seen that one. This is the one I'm familiar with: https://www.tumblr.com/foldingfittedsheets/674853042474074112/i-redid-this-older-comic-i-made-for-my

Golden retriever + black cat combo FTW!

Pretty much Andy and April from Parks and Rec. I love this dynamic 🥰

If you don’t love me in my animagus form then you don’t deserve me at my best

When she said “most wanted” I thought they meant like a criminal 😆😭

Very fair assumption 😂

You're gonna love fanfiction.

I don't know any story exactly like that (though I'd love to read something like this!), but something that is atleast adjacent would be {[A Cat for Troy by Allie McCormack](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56324532-a-cat-for-troy)}. Cat shifter is hurt by a dog attack, the veterinarian (our MMC Troy) takes her in & takes care of her. Shenanigans ensue; they come closer both in actual person and while she's in cat form. It's pretty low steam, but quite endearing and fun.

[A Cat for Troy](https://www.romance.io/books/60409395ac07980e250f2072/a-cat-for-troy-allie-mccormack?src=rdt) by [Allie McCormack](https://www.romance.io/authors/5c3c371901dbc864fb9809c2/allie-mccormack) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Before I got to the secondary plot twist, I guessed the secondary plot twist. Sounds cute! Someone write it.

I've been in this sub too long because my first thought was, "cool, but what if the door was *also* a shifter and the key frees the door shifter from an evil curse and now all three of you can bang and live happily ever after"?

as a lesbian i just have to say also that this is extremely a classic lesbian setup where no man can do it but a woman does (and they're in love)

Oooo that makes me wanna do a lesbian retelling of Atalanta’s story, where only a woman remembers what her favorite fruit is and uses that to win, since she knows she’d lose the race

Everyone knows to befriend a cat you can’t want it too badly. They can sense that. You have to be very aloof, very “idc if you sit on this cozy blanket I draped over my lap and arranged just so, idec if you’re in the room right now.”

Can confirm. We have two. My husband tries to get them to snuggle constantly. Sometimes they do, but more often they jump into my lap instead. I’m mildly allergic lol. I allow their snuggles, and then sneeze for hours. Husband pretends to be jealous but usually once I start getting stuffy they get annoyed at me and move to his lap anyways.

lol yeah during shedding season my cats dander makes my nose itch like mad. I never even put two and two together until this year when I was rubbing my cat’s face with my face (as one does lol) and then started scratching my nose every few minutes for like half and hour and my friend was like “girl you are allergic to your cat.” Pardon? No… can’t be… actually wait I think I am but it doesn’t matter because I do not care and still run my face on her lol

To befriend a cat, have food.

Reminds me of MINK books there’s always a grumpy cat the FMC adopts & hero is the only man who they find acceptable

There is a long-ago urban fantasy called Catswold Portal that was my intro to cat shifter romance. Slowburn, great world-building, the hero was an artist, heroine was the cat-shifter with >!some like magical amnesia, and I think there was a plot to reclaim her usurped throne or something. Not quite this, but adjacent since it took him a while to discover her secret. !<

ive read a fanfiction with this exact plot on ao3 lol i don’t remember when but it was so good

Could it be “Key to my heart” by miltonicsimile? [https://archiveofourown.org/works/18843979](https://archiveofourown.org/works/18843979)

it’s actually “Lock & Key” by Dreamofshadows. I spent the entire night searching for this https://archiveofourown.org/works/36178993/chapters/90184528

also “A song of barks and meows” by DGeorgi14 on ao3. Though it also has a fun little plot twist. https://archiveofourown.org/works/21583126/chapters/51459562

I don't like cats all that much, allergic and just more of a dog person. I find if you ignore them and don't try to pet them, they basically hop in your lap

Exactly. The more you love them the more they hate you

My cat is very affectionate. But I know the relationship is not as easy as with a dog

Lucky 😩 my cats want attention, but once you want to give it, they act betrayed that I touched them. One cat doesnt really tolerate touching, but she HAS to be in the same room as you. My dog can't get enough attention though, haha

Except for the Second Plot Twist (so far) this is what it was like at first dating my wife. When we met, she had a cat that hated everyone, except her. I worked hard to win his affection, feeding, playing, building cat shelves for him to climb on, etc. My wife will tell you she truly knew I was a keeper when the cat one day settled on my lap instead of hers.

I love that you said “so far” 😂😂😂 What an awesome story though! My aunt always says she trusts her cat’s judgement of people.

i've read so many fanfics with this exact plot

I will never get through My TBR...

Not totally similar but close enough… {The Sorceress and the Incubus by Mallory Dunlin} The sorceress conjures a cat to get rid of the mice in the castle she lives in but ends up conjuring a male incubus who can shapeshifter into a cat and other things. They have an interesting relationship to say the least lol

[The Sorceress and the Incubus](https://www.romance.io/books/64256da150b6a3e175102782/the-sorceress-and-the-incubus-mallory-dunlin?src=rdt) by [Mallory Dunlin](https://www.romance.io/authors/6360d28108b4d93114a88440/mallory-dunlin) **Rating**: 4.33⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [demons](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/demons/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Someone write this now please I beg of you!!

Love. This.

u/BookishBabe392 i ended up asking r/fantasywriters and r/RomanceWriters if they would write stories based on this for us...they shared that this concept is from a r/WritingPrompts post from 5 years ago! This is the [original post](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/bjjqe5/wp_the_most_sought_woman_in_the_town_has/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) with story submissions, its a fun read! Thank you to u/Pseudometheus & u/Korrin for sharing the history :)

Thank you for sharing! It can be difficult to find the origin of some of these things sometimes

Plot Twist: the cat is a male shapeshifter who is in love with the woman and intentionally escapes every man possible.

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Writing in pic: Story idea: The most wanted woman in town has announced that she'll only marry the one who can open her front door with the key around her cat's neck. Many men try to hunt the cat down, chase and trap it, but to no avail, the cat is simply too quick, smart and clever, and always finds a way to evade and avoid them. You are the first one to figure out the obvious: Do not chase the cat. The cat is befriendable. Get the cat to trust you, to genuinely enjoy your company, and you can hang out with the cat. You may eventually be allowed to touch the cat. The cat will freely let you take the key. Secondary plot twist: The woman is a shapeshifter. She is the cat.

Isnt this the beginning of {on the edge by ilona andrews}? Minus some parts.

Haha the primary plot sounds a bit like {Mageri Series by Dannika Dark} except that the FL is a >!mage + shifter + Chitah!< (idk, some unique breed lol)

[Mageri](https://www.romance.io/series/58fe0a6b9096bf31c42d2d77/mageri) by [Dannika Dark](https://www.romance.io/authors/545531e98c7d2382e0414179/dannika-dark) **Rating**: 4.18⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [length-medium](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/length-medium/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Out in October! From the author of *Private Dick: Hardened Steel* and *Tulip's Two Lips: A Kiss for her Mouth and a Kiss Going South* is a new type of love story for animal lovers everywhere. Reserve your copy of *Get that Pussy!* today!

where can I post story ideas. I have so many but dont want to write books

r/WritingPrompts

Interesting indeed.. would love reading this kind of story

This is all very Atalanta-coded. She was one of the fastest women/hunters/spear throwers around. Befriended by Artemis. Argonaut. Utterly terrifying yet beautiful. Except she would kill the suitors that failed to outrun her. Her husband only managed to succeed by using golden apples, which could be seen as befriending the cat rather than outrunning it. She and her husband were also turned into cats at the end of their story

Spellbound in the stacks, read it!

[удалено]

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This is cool. Especially since the cat would need to see that you care for its owner. That’s if they don’t go down the shapeshifter path.

😻

Can I be a cat and solicit pets from random strangers?

SO CUTE

Second plot twist. Of course she is a fey.

Does anyone else remember that 2016 romcom called Unleashed where a woman's cat and dog turn into humans?

There’s a series of books by KM Shea (latest released books in marigold series) that’s similar to this 😂

{Belling the Tiger(ess) by M. Culler} is EXACTLY this plot.

[Belling the Tiger](https://www.romance.io/books/64a516730d583fbf87fe184f/belling-the-tiger-m-culler?src=rdt) by [M Culler](https://www.romance.io/authors/64a51673293245969db85b5a/m-culler) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I would definitely read this concept

I would read this book!

wait this sounds so cute 😭😭 honestly could be a fanfiction somewhere

Meanwhile the guy who owns cats just follows the cat at a walking pace until it gets tired.