Varjak Paw

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of bullying, animal cruelty and death, illness, and death.

Varjak Paw lives in the Contessa’s house with his grandfather, mother, father, Aunt Juni, cousin Jasmine, big brother Julius, and little brothers Jay, Jethro, and Jerome. His ancestor Jalal was a courageous adventurer who traveled from Mesopotamia to the Contessa’s home near London, but his descendants have become complacent, pedigree cats. The Contessa falls ill and stops visiting the cats.

One day, Julius mocks Varjak for listening to their grandfather’s stories about Jalal and for having amber eyes when the rest of the family has green eyes. The family legends say that Jalal also had green eyes, which makes Varjak wonder if he really is a pure-bred Mesopotamian Blue like his hero. Varjak tries to sneak out into the garden, but his father scolds him, saying: “[Y]ou have to learn to behave like a proper Mesopotamian Blue. We’re noble cats, special cats” (11). Father punishes Varjak by making him stay behind when the rest of the family goes to dinner. The Elder Paw tries to cheer up his grandson by promising to tell him the tale of Jalal’s most fearsome battle later.