Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector guide - How to get rare cats

Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector is an adorable game about attracting new and interesting cats to your house. Here are some tips to help you spot some of the harder to find felines.

First, you need fish

Fish are the primary currency in Neko Atsume, so maximizing fish income is paramount. The best early items for getting fish are the red ball, ping pong ball, and small cardboard box.

They're all relatively cheap but can net you up to 32 silver fish when cats use them. What does this have to do with rare cats? Well, rare cats only visit if certain toys and food are present, and all of those cost fish.

Other ways to gain more fish include entering Neko Atsume's daily password for free fish and constantly refilling your food bowl with free food to keep those kitties coming.

Next, you need a plan

All of the cats in Neko Atsume have a personality. It's not just luck when certain cats show up.

For example Tatejima-san is a cat that wears a baseball uniform, so having a baseball out is key to getting him to visit.

Here are some other formulas for getting unique cats:

• Twisty Rail - this tunnel toy can bring out Ekichou-san, the train conductor cat.
• Sashimi and Mari ball - These two items combined can bring out Maromayu-san, a cat dressed in some ancient Japanese duds.
• Stove or Flower Vase - Bistro-san is a high-end chef cat, so if you provide him with the right tools or ambience, he might show up!

Finally, don't worry too much about food

The food in Neko Atsume might seem really important at first, but most rare cats don't require fine foods to appear.

Sure, it might help coax some hard-to-get felines out, but mostly sticking to toys and rotating them often is a much more cost effective strategy.

Are you enjoying Neko Atsume? Do you have another rare cat formulas for us? Share it in the comments below!