"The Cat from Hell" is a 16-page short story.

PublicationEdit

The story was originally published in Cavalier magazine in two parts: the first 500 words were published in the March 1977 issue, after which a contest was held for readers to finish the story, while the conclusion of the tale, as well as the winning entry, were published in the June 1977 issue. The story was later included in King's own 2008 collection Just After Sunset.

PlotEdit

The story concerns a professional hitman hired to assassinate an unusual target – a cat. He is offered $12,000 for the hit and accepts, despite being told that the cat was implicated in the murders of three different people. He quickly discovers that the cat is much more than it seems.

CharactersEdit

• John Halston
• Mr. Drogan
• the hellcat

Publication HistoryEdit

Between Cavalier and Just After Sunset', the story appeared in:

• Gent magazine, December 1977
• Tales of Unknown Horror, 1978
• Year's Finest Fantasy, 1978
• Magicats!, 1984
• Twists of the Tale: An Anthology of Cat Horror, 1996