Physics for Cats
by Tom Gauld
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Pub Date Oct 07 2025 | Archive Date Nov 15 2025
Drawn & Quarterly | Drawn and Quarterly
Description
What happens to a cat who goes through a wormhole?
Tom Gauld returns with Physics for Cats, his second collection of science-based cartoons for the New Scientist. Find out why every scientist worth their sodium chloride has a Tom Gauld cartoon taped to their electron microscope. This new batch of hilarious gags will be as important to every self-respecting scientist as a lab coat and goggles and oversize rubber gloves.
Find out what the hadron’s news alert about CERN says! Everyone asks, “What is dark matter?” and “Where is dark matter?” but do they ever take the time to ask, “How is dark matter?” Based all on previous data, we can predict with a 99.99% certainty that you will either laugh, guffaw, chortle or snort (we don’t have a large enough sample set to be able to say which particular type of mirth you will experience.)
Advance Praise
“Gauld is probably the first to even imagine such a thing as “science cartoons,” but some of their titles hint at the rich material he has found in a seemingly somber field.” —Gal Beckerman, The New York Times
“This British cartoonist is a master of heightening humor through restraint.” — Michael Cavna, The Washington Post
“Tom Gauld’s transformation of the humble stick figure is perhaps the most impressive sleight of hand you will witness.” — Irene Velentzas, The Comics Journal
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9781770468054 |
PRICE | $21.95 (USD) |
PAGES | 160 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews

Tom Gauld never ceases to delight! His clever wit and sense of humor are so unique and relatable. This was a great addition!

I love Tom Gauld's work soo much, my friends love his work, my coworkers love is work, he's one of those artists whose comics we show each other and all find funny. Did I kind of hope there would be more cat comics, with that title? Sure. But I was NOT disappointed.

Gauld is a master of the one page/low panel amount funny comic, and it really shows here in this science and cat focused collection.

Disclaimer: No cats were harmed in the making of this review.
Tom Gauld has collected another set of his one-panel science cartoons under the title of Physics for Cats. The fun starts with the cover and keeps up the fun through out the book. A call out to Faust appears early in the book as does Soren Kerkegaard and The Seventh Seal. Academics and online irritations make the cut as well has updated weather symbols. But my two favorite cartoons cover the concept of plagiarism and role-playing in real life. So if you want to laugh or at least smile, pick up this title!
Thanks Netgalley and Drawn & Quarterly for the chance to read this title!

In this collection of one page comics, Physics for Cats features humorous quips from a variety of scientific disciplines, from archeology to astronomy. It was a fun read, although because I am not super into science, some of the jokes admittedly went over my head. It also could have used more jokes featuring cats, like the title suggests. But overall, this was a funny and clever collection that is sure to have you laughing most of the time.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review!

I am a big fan of Tom Gauld. I'm a librarian, and you can probably guess my favorite of his comic collections: Revenge of the Librarians. I also adore The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess by Tom Gauld. I hope he will do more picture books in the future. I wasn't so sure that Physics for Cats would be for me. Cats, I get but physics...I'm not so good at science stuff. I am happy to tell you that no advanced scientific knowledge is necessary to enjoy these sly, witty comics. I also appreciate Gauld's unique artistic style, which is both simple and detailed at the same time. Don't ask me to explain that. Just get Physics for Cats and read it for yourself. You can thank me later.

Thank you to NetGalley for my Advanced Reader's Copy of this book.
This was a fun little read. I recommend to anyone who loves science and science related humor. I plan on buying this book for my scientist father later this year.

is a fun and interesting exploration of physics topics. I had my doubts, but it's very good!
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for this advanced reader's copy.

As always Tom has made me laugh, chuckle to myself and smile from ear to hear. His books never fail to bring me joy. Sometimes the panels are “simplistic” but others are more busy and have lots going on but it always works so well. I take my time reading and savouring his work because I don’t want it to end. I follow him on social media and always thrilled when he posts the recent work he did for the Guardian…so much fun.
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