Cats on cats on cats

In the real world, turning your backyard into a playground for 50 felines might be met with disapproval. But in the world of Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector, (Android and iOS platforms, free) hoarding cats is the name of the game. Originally a huge smash in Japan (natch), the American version has gone from unknown to maximum cultural saturation in just a few months.

The goal is to collect cats. Start with some fish (the in-game currency) and buy a toy. Place it in your yard and wait. Soon, an adorable cat shows up to play with it! When the cat departs, it leaves more money. With more money, you buy more toys. More toys attract more cats. Save up to expand your yard, which can house more toys, which attract more cats. You get the idea.

All the cats have different personalities, from the gluttonous Tubbs to the elusive Peaches. There’s even an entire cohort of rare cats, who are only attracted to certain toys. When they show up, activate the camera function to capture their adorable antics in your “catbook.”

OK, look: I’m well aware that at this point, I’ve lost most of you. But to those who are left, the simple mechanics of Neko Atsume will quickly become an obsession. I don’t even like cats (a heresy on today’s cat-centric Internet), and I’ve been checking my virtual yard religiously for two months now. I’m down to one empty spot in my catbook, and I know St. Purrtrick can’t hold out forever.