The Catfather Slot Review
Free demo, RTP, volatility and max win
8.9Value score · Very good · how it works
The Catfather review: Pragmatic Play's 2016 cat-gang slot that pays both ways on 9 lines, with Wild Night wilds, 4x free spins and a 98.1% RTP.
- #7by RTP of 3,708 slots
- #14by value of 3,708 slots
- #4by value of 632 Pragmatic Play slots
Play The Catfather free: demo, no sign-up
Free play money from Pragmatic Play's official demo. 18+. No deposit and no account; a demo does not predict real results.
Basic information
| Software | Pragmatic Play |
|---|---|
| Release year | 2016 |
| RTP | 98.1% |
| Volatility | Not published |
| Max win | Not published |
| Hit frequency | Not published |
| Features | Free spins |
| Game type | Slot |
| Data verified | 2026-09-28 |
Source: Pragmatic Play game page; RTP database by toolsgambling.com (CC BY 4.0); image: Pragmatic Play promotional image from the official game page. How we collect data · Report a mistake
The Catfather review
The Catfather, a 2016 Pragmatic Play release about a gang of mischievous cats, lists a 98.1% RTP, which leaves a house edge of only 1.9%. The design is compact: 9 lines that pay in both directions, a random wild feature called Wild Night and a free spins round in which every win is multiplied by 4x.
Why the RTP stands out
A 98.1% RTP means a house edge of 1.9%. Over a long run, about $19 of every $1,000 wagered is kept.
On a session scale, 100 spins cost $0.38 on average at $0.20, $1.90 at $1 and $9.50 at $5. A lower edge does not stop sessions from losing; it only means the expected cost per spin is smaller.
The studio does not publish a volatility rating or a max win for this game in our data, which is a real gap when judging how the return is spread.
How it plays
Wins are counted on 9 lines, and the studio says they pay from left to right and from right to left. A combination can therefore start on either outer reel, which gives each line two chances to connect.
Wild Night
A random expanded-wild feature. When it fires, wilds appear fully expanded on any combination of reels 1, 2 and 3. Since wins pay both ways, wild reels on the left half of the grid can help combinations read in either direction.
Free spins with a 4x multiplier
During the free spins round every win is multiplied by 4x. The studio's description does not say how the round is triggered or how many spins it awards, so we cannot add those details. The fixed multiplier keeps the round simple to follow.
The sequel and close relatives
The Catfather Part II arrived the same year and lists a 96.07% RTP, a large step down from the original. Among games with similar numbers, 888 Gold lists 97.52% with a 2,000x max win, Gold Train lists 97.16%, and Caishen's Gold lists 97.08%. Diamond Strike lists 97.02% with a 1,000x cap, while Diamonds are Forever 3 Lines and Irish Charms both list 96.96%. None of them matches the original's return, and the sequel trails it by more than two points, so the first game is the one to pick on the numbers alone.
Who it suits
Players who put return first will find the 98.1% figure hard to ignore, and the simple line structure makes it easy for beginners. Anyone who wants to know the swing profile or the top prize in advance will be frustrated by the missing data. The free demo is the way to see Wild Night and the bonus before staking money.
Pros
- Wins pay both left to right and right to left
- All free spins wins are multiplied by 4x
- Free official demo available
Cons
- No volatility rating published
- No max win published
- Free spins trigger and spin count are not described in our source
Verdict
The Catfather earns attention for one figure above all: a 98.1% RTP and a 1.9% house edge. The pays-both-ways lines, Wild Night and 4x free spins are straightforward. The missing volatility rating and max win leave questions open, so try the demo first and keep stakes within a set budget.
Sources: Pragmatic Play official game page; RTP, volatility and max win from the open Slot RTP Database.
The Catfather series
1 other game of the same franchise by Pragmatic Play, oldest first.
Slots like The Catfather
The Catfather RTP
The data lists one RTP for The Catfather. Versions are not tracked for Pragmatic Play games, so other versions may exist; check the game's info screen.
- 98.1% $19 lost per $1,000
Cost of 100 spins
| Bet | Wagered | Average cost at 98.1% |
|---|---|---|
| $0.20 | $20 | $0.38 |
| $1 | $100 | $1.90 |
| $5 | $500 | $9.50 |
Averages computed from the published RTP; real sessions vary widely around them. RTP calculator
The Catfather max win, volatility & stats
- Value score
- 8.9 / 10
- Lost per $1,000 (average)
- $19
- Max win at $1 bet
- –
- Wins on average
- –
Percentiles compare this game with the 3,708 games in the catalogue. Max win: not published.
