The Cat
As the most complex and fully realized character in the book, the mischievous, human-like Cat introduces Sally and her brother to a new, fantastical world full of fun and chaos. With his balancing act and unearthing of the Things, the Cat disregards many of the social norms enforced in the children’s home, as illustrated by the fish’s frequent, passionate dismissals of his presence. While embodying chaos and anti-authoritarianism, the Cat’s intentions are not misguided or inappropriate. He simply wants to show two children—who have surrendered to their boredom amid the rainy weather and their mother's absence—how to amuse themselves with ordinary items in their house.
Despite his encouragement of the children to have fun and defy the rules, the Cat restores the house to its original, neat condition and claims that he “always picks up [his] playthings” (179). The Cat is thus a paradoxical character: he values fun and spontaneity, but still respects some of the basic principles of any traditional household—cleaning up and taking ownership of one’s mess.
The boy
As the narrator, Sally’s older, unnamed brother guides us through the events of the story, often pausing to give us insights into the unfolding story. At the beginning of the book, the boy and Sally sit at their chairs and gaze out the window. While he doesn't seek out play opportunities, the boy’s narration reveals that he still wants to have some fun: “And I said, ‘How I wish/We had something to do!’” (7-8). The boy’s passivity remains his defining characteristic for most of the book: he does not directly interact with the Cat, instead powerlessly watching as the madness unfolds in the household. However, once he learns of his mother's impending return home, the boy confronts the mayhem in the home: he catches the Things with a net and even assertively commands the Cat to leave. While the boy and the Cat do not develop a meaningful relationship, it is the Cat’s visit that ultimately stirs the boy’s narrative transformation from a passive and aimless young boy to a fervent, confident defender of his home.
The fish
As a symbol of order and compliance, the fish fills the void of an authoritative figure during the children's mother's absence. He is nagging, dismissive, and constantly vocalizes his disapproval of the Cat—out of concern that the Cat’s actions will spur chaos and disarray in the house. Indeed, the fish shows his opposition to the Cat and commitment to upholding the house’s normalcy by repeatedly claiming, “He [the Cat] should not be here” (53). Ultimately, the children do not take the fish’s protests seriously until he alerts them of their mother’s impending return to the house. For all of his protests, the fish remains powerless. It is the threat of his mother’s disapproval and punishment that finally springs the boy into action, not the fish.
Sally
During the rainstorm, the younger, silent Sally joins her brother in aimlessly staring at the rain, rather than finding creative ways to play indoors. Unlike her brother, though, Sally’s defining trait—her nondescript passivity—persists through the entire book. For example, Sally doesn’t initiate any action even at the climax of the story. When her mother returns from her outing and approaches the house, it is the boy who captures the Things and commands the Cat to leave, while Sally remains on the sidelines. Even though she does not speak or intentionally cease the chaos in the house, Sally’s facial expressions frequently connote concern and surprise. Notably, once her brother catches the Things, Sally finally smiles—which implies that she shares her brother’s relief and joy in reclaiming order in the household.
Thing One and Thing Two
Thing One and Thing Two are the two small, identical creatures with poofy blue hair and bright red jumpsuits. When the Cat unleashes the Things from the large, wooden box, he insists that they are “oh so tame” and simply want to have fun (188), but the Things ironically end up wrecking more havoc than the Cat. After politely shaking the children’s hands, the Things start flying kites around the house, leaving each room and hallway in a complete state of disorder. Unlike the Cat, the Things do not take responsibility for their mess nor contribute to the cleanup of the house. The Things thus represent sheer, unbridled chaos and anarchy, thereby juxtaposing with the Cat, who shows respect and concern for some rules and order.
The Children's Mother
The children's mother is one of the more mysterious elements of The Cat in the Hat. We simply learn that she is out of the house and could return at any moment. We do not learn her reasoning for leaving her two young children in an unlocked home by themselves, vulnerable to outsiders. At the very end of the book, she is revealed to be well-dressed in a red coat and black heels—but we never see her face.
Despite the mother's sparse characterization, she exerts enormous influence over the boy, the fish, Sally, and even the Cat. For instance, the fish constantly frets that the mother would object to the Cat's intrusion; it is the threat of her disapproval and discipline that forces the boy to capture the Things; and the Cat cleans the house out of respect for her authority. Even with her power and influence, the mother still asks her children if they had any fun during her absence. Clearly, she wants the children to enjoy themselves—she is not a ruthless authoritarian who only wants submission and obedience out of her children. However, it remains unclear if her concept of “fun” aligns with a tame, domesticized worldview (like the fish) or a more free-spirited, rebellious one (like the Cat).
