From the publisher’s rulebook
Who goes first in Cat in the Box?
Pegasus Spiele German rules for 2–5 players, English summary
Whoever most recently encountered a black cat goes first.
Rule details
That player takes the round-start card and leads the first trick. The round-start card passes clockwise for subsequent rounds.
The two-player changes leave the starting criterion unchanged.
Source & edition
- Cat in the Box: Pegasus Spiele rulesPegasus Spiele · Vorbereitung, step 5; Ein Stich; Vorbereitungsphase der nächsten Runde; Regeländerungen für 2 Personen; PDF pages 3, 5, 10 · Checked 2026-09-23Printed page references: 3, 5, 10
Image: © Pegasus Spiele; artwork by Osamu Inoue · Pegasus Spiele
If there’s a tie
The rulebook doesn’t say.
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