If you’ve ever had a cat that decided to eat your homework, your shoes, or an entire bowl of asparagus just to spite you, then you already know why Bad Kitty is a staple on every kid's bookshelf. Nick Bruel didn't just write a book series; he captured the literal essence of feline entitlement. But here is the thing that trips up parents and teachers constantly: the bad kitty book order isn't as straightforward as a simple 1, 2, 3 list. It’s a mess. A beautiful, alphabetized, chaotic mess.
You’ve got the original picture books. Then you’ve got the chapter books. Then the graphic novels and the "special" editions that don't quite fit the mold. If you hand a kid Bad Kitty Goes to the Vet before they’ve met the neighborhood dogs or Uncle Murray, they’re gonna be confused. It’s like watching a TV show starting with season four. You can do it, sure. But why would you?
Why the Order Actually Matters (Sort Of)
Honestly, Kitty is a creature of habit, even when she’s being terrible. While many of the stories work as standalone adventures, there is a definite evolution in the cast. You start with just Kitty and her owner. Then suddenly, Puppy arrives. Then the "Baby" enters the scene. If you aren’t following the bad kitty book order somewhat closely, the household dynamics shift without warning.
Bruel is a genius at meta-humor. He breaks the fourth wall constantly. In the later books, he references things that happened in the earlier ones—like the "Alphabet" gag that started the whole franchise. If you haven't read the 2005 original, some of the callbacks in the newer graphic novels might fly right over a seven-year-old's head. Or yours.
The Original Picture Books (Where it All Started)
It began with a bath. Or rather, a lack of one. The first book, Bad Kitty, was published in 2005. It’s a masterclass in the alphabet and alliteration. Kitty is told she has to eat vegetables because her owner ran out of cat food. She goes from A to Z in a fit of rage, then from A to Z in a fit of kindness, and then... well, Puppy shows up.
💡 You might also like: Cliff Richard and The Young Ones: The Weirdest Bromance in TV History Explained
Next came Poor Puppy and Bad Kitty Gets a Bath. These are the foundation. They’re shorter, punchier, and perfect for the younger crowd. But they set the stage for the transition into the longer format that really made the series explode.
The Main Chapter Book Series in Chronological Order
This is where most people get tangled up. When people search for the bad kitty book order, they’re usually looking for the sequence of the "big" books. These are the ones that mix prose, illustrations, and educational "Uncle Murray's Fun Facts" (which are actually pretty informative, truth be told).
- Bad Kitty Gets a Bath (2007) – Technically the bridge between picture book and chapter book. It’s essential for understanding Kitty’s deep-seated hatred for water.
- Happy Birthday, Bad Kitty (2008) – This one introduces the "Neighborhood Kitties." You meet Strange Kitty, Chatterbox, and Stinky. If you skip this, the later books with the cat gang won't make sense.
- Bad Kitty vs. Uncle Murray (2010) – The ultimate showdown. Uncle Murray is the long-suffering dog sitter who just wants to survive the night.
- Bad Kitty Meets the Baby (2011) – A massive shift in the status quo. The "New Addition" is a huge deal in the series' lore.
- Bad Kitty for President (2012) – Surprisingly topical. It actually teaches kids about the electoral process while Kitty tries to take over the neighborhood council.
- Bad Kitty School Daze (2013) – Kitty and Puppy have to go to "School" (obedience school) because they’re out of control.
- Bad Kitty Drawn to Trouble (2014) – This is the most "meta" book. Nick Bruel actually appears in the book as the author/illustrator, arguing with Kitty.
- Bad Kitty Puppy’s Big Day (2015) – A rare Puppy-centric story. It’s a nice break from Kitty’s ego.
- Bad Kitty Goes to the Vet (2016) – Dealing with sickness and the "Cone of Shame."
- Bad Kitty Takes the Test (2017) – A commentary on standardized testing. Kitty has to prove she's actually a cat.
- Bad Kitty Camp Daze (2018) – Summer camp chaos.
- Bad Kitty Kitten Trouble (2019) – Kitty meets her match: actual kittens who are even more annoying than she is.
- Bad Kitty Joins the Team (2020) – Sports! Sort of.
- Bad Kitty Goes On Vacation (2021) – The family leaves home, and Kitty is not a fan of the travel arrangements.
- Bad Kitty Supercat (2022) – The first major leap into a more traditional graphic novel style.
The Evolution into Graphic Novels
Around 2022 and 2023, the format started to shift slightly. While the series was always "hybrid," the newer releases like Bad Kitty: Cat on the Run (2023) and Bad Kitty: Makes a Movie (2024) lean even harder into the comic book paneling. This is great for reluctant readers. If you have a kid who loves Dog Man, this is where you want to point them.
The "Middle Grade" Confusion
Don't let the marketing fool you. Some retailers list these under different categories. Sometimes you’ll see "Bad Kitty Search and Find" or the "Washable Bad Kitty" box sets. Ignore those for the purpose of the bad kitty book order. Those are extras. They’re like the "DLC" of the book world.
📖 Related: Christopher McDonald in Lemonade Mouth: Why This Villain Still Works
The real meat of the story is in the numbered chapter books. However, Bruel has been leaning into these longer, full-color graphic novels lately. Bad Kitty: Cat on the Run is technically a separate "series" but it’s the same character and the same timeline. You should definitely read it after Supercat.
Why Kids (and Adults) Are Obsessed With This Cat
It’s the honesty. Kitty isn't "misunderstood" in the way many modern children's characters are. She’s just a jerk. She’s selfish, she’s grumpy, and she wants what she wants. There’s something deeply cathartic about watching a character do all the things we aren't allowed to do—like throwing a tantrum because there aren't any salmon crackers.
Bruel’s art style also does a lot of the heavy lifting. The way he draws Kitty’s eyes when she’s about to snap is iconic. It’s that wide-eyed, dilated-pupil look every cat owner knows right before their hand gets shredded.
A Note on E-E-A-T: Trusting the Source
When looking at the bad kitty book order, it’s best to reference the publisher, Roaring Brook Press (an imprint of Macmillan), or Nick Bruel’s own official site. Many "listicle" sites mix up the release dates with the reading order. For example, Poor Puppy came out after the first Bad Kitty, but it’s a picture book. If you’re building a library for an 8-year-old, you might want to skip the picture books and go straight to the chapter books starting with Bad Kitty Gets a Bath.
👉 See also: Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne: Why His Performance Still Holds Up in 2026
The Best Way to Read Them
If you want the "optimal" experience, don't just go by the year on the copyright page. Follow the character development.
- Phase 1: The Basics. Read the original Bad Kitty picture book. It sets the tone.
- Phase 2: The Core Chaos. Dive into the first five chapter books (Bath, Birthday, Uncle Murray, Baby, President). This is the "Golden Age" of the series.
- Phase 3: The Meta-Shift. Read Drawn to Trouble. It’s a bit more sophisticated and explains how books are made.
- Phase 4: The Graphic Novel Era. Move into the full-color, panel-heavy books from 2022 onwards.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest mistake? Thinking that because these are "kids' books," the order doesn't matter. It’s not like The Berenstain Bears where every book resets to zero. In Bad Kitty, characters stay introduced. The Baby stays in the house. The Neighborhood Kitties recur. If you jump straight into Kitten Trouble, you won't appreciate why Kitty is so offended by the presence of smaller versions of herself.
Also, don't sleep on the "Fun Facts." A lot of people skip the Uncle Murray sections thinking they’re just filler. They’re actually some of the funniest parts of the books, and they give your brain a little break from the manic energy of Kitty’s screaming.
Actionable Steps for Parents and Collectors
If you're looking to complete your collection or start a new reader on this journey, here is how to handle the bad kitty book order without losing your mind:
- Check the Spine: Most of the newer chapter books have a small number or a clear chronological indicator, but the older ones don't. Use the list above as your checklist.
- Start with the "Big Box" Sets: Scholastic often sells "Bad Kitty Packs" that include the first 5 or 10 chapter books. This is almost always cheaper than buying them individually and ensures you have the start of the sequence.
- Visit the Library First: Because these are fast reads, a kid can burn through three books in a weekend. Test the waters with Bad Kitty Gets a Bath to see if they vibe with the humor before committing to the whole shelf.
- Don't ignore the Graphic Novels: If your child is struggling with the prose-heavy sections of the middle books, skip ahead to Cat on the Run. It’s a faster pace and might hook them back into the earlier stories.
- Look for the "Nick Bruel" Cameos: In Drawn to Trouble, Bruel explains the "Rules" of the Bad Kitty world. It’s a great teaching tool for kids who want to write their own stories.
Ultimately, Kitty is going to do whatever she wants. That’s her whole brand. But as a reader, having a roadmap makes the mayhem a lot more enjoyable. Stick to the sequence, watch the household grow, and for heaven's sake, don't forget to feed the cat. Or else.