Catching the Meowing Treasure: Your Complete Kittyfish Adventure in SVE

Kittyfish Catching Guide - Stardew Valley Expanded

Track your progress, troubleshoot issues, and learn everything about catching this magical fish!

Kittyfish Prerequisites Checklist

Before you can catch Kittyfish, you need to meet all these requirements. Check them off as you go:

Important: All prerequisites must be met in sequence. Even if you're in Fall with Fishing level 10, if you haven't seen Willy's event or met Camilla, the Kittyfish won't be available.

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This interactive guide is based on Stardew Valley Expanded v1.15.8 and may need updates for newer versions.

For the latest information, visit the SVE Nexus Mods page.

Looking to add the magical, cat-like Kittyfish to your Stardew Valley Expanded collection? You’re in the right place. This fan-favorite fish requires specific prerequisites, perfect timing, and a bit of magical intervention from Camilla to even appear in your game. The kittyfish can only be caught at Shearwater Bridge during Fall or Winter after triggering a special event with Camilla, which requires fishing level 8+ and completing Willy’s special event first. Jump to our Quick Solution Checklist to immediately verify what you’re missing, or read on for the complete adventure from prerequisites to profit-making strategies.

Quick Solution Checklist

Not seeing Kittyfish at Shearwater Bridge? Check off these requirements:

If you’ve checked all boxes but still no Kittyfish, see our Troubleshooting section.

Understanding Kittyfish Basics

The Kittyfish stands as one of Stardew Valley Expanded’s most charming additions to the aquatic ecosystem. With its distinctive cat-like appearance and unique magical origin story, this fish has captured the hearts of SVE players since its introduction. Unlike regular fish that naturally exist in the waters of Stardew Valley, the Kittyfish is literally conjured into existence through magic, making its acquisition method distinctly different from ordinary fishing.

What Makes Kittyfish Special?

The Kittyfish isn’t just another fish to add to your collection-it’s a magical creature summoned by the witch Camilla. According to the in-game description, “A magical fish summoned by Camilla. It likes scratches under the chin.” This endearing detail highlights the whimsical nature of this particular catch. When examined closely, you’ll notice the Kittyfish actually has cat-like features, including whiskers and paws, and it even makes meowing sounds when caught.

The unique nature of this fish extends beyond its appearance. Unlike most fish in the game that are simply waiting to be caught, Kittyfish don’t naturally exist in the waters of Stardew Valley until Camilla magically creates them during a special event. This lore-rich background makes obtaining the Kittyfish as much about progressing through the expanded storyline as it is about fishing skill.

What truly sets the Kittyfish apart from standard Stardew Valley fish is its role in the expanded narrative. The fish serves as a connection point between the farming aspects of the game and the magical elements introduced by SVE, specifically through the character of Camilla. This intersection of gameplay elements represents the thoughtful integration that makes SVE such a comprehensive and enjoyable expansion.

For collectors, the Kittyfish is essential for completing the Master Angler achievement in Stardew Valley Expanded. This achievement requires catching every fish in the game, including all those added by the expansion. Missing even one fish, such as the Kittyfish, will prevent you from earning this coveted achievement, making this particular fish a necessary target for completionists.

Prerequisites Checklist

Before you can even think about casting your line for a Kittyfish, you’ll need to satisfy several prerequisites that unlock the special event that makes these fish appear in the first place. These requirements ensure you’ve progressed sufficiently through certain storylines in SVE.

First and foremost, you need to reach Fishing level 8 or higher. This relatively high skill requirement ensures that you have sufficient fishing ability to successfully catch the Kittyfish once it appears. If you’re not yet at level 8, focus on fishing regularly and cooking dishes that provide fishing buffs to accelerate your progress.

The second major prerequisite involves seeing Willy’s special event where he suggests fishing at Shearwater Bridge. This event is triggered on your farm during Spring or Summer, between 10AM and 6PM, but only after you’ve reached at least Fishing level 5. During this event, Willy will visit your farm and mention the potential benefits of fishing at Shearwater Bridge, setting up the narrative foundation for the Kittyfish’s eventual appearance.

The third prerequisite relates to meeting Camilla, the witch who creates the Kittyfish. There are two possible paths to satisfy this requirement:

  1. Experiencing the event where Camilla translates a scroll for you, OR
  2. Getting the event where you’re introduced to Isaac

If you first met Camilla when she took you to Galdora, you’ll need to complete one additional event after that initial meeting. These Camilla-related prerequisites establish your connection to the magical aspects of the SVE world, particularly the mystical characters who operate beyond the boundaries of the original game.

Finally, after meeting all these prerequisites, you must enter the town during the Fall season. This seasonal requirement adds a time-sensitive element to the Kittyfish quest, potentially requiring patience if you’ve fulfilled all other requirements but aren’t currently in Fall.

It’s worth noting that all these prerequisites must be met in sequence. Even if you’re in Fall with Fishing level 10, if you haven’t seen Willy’s Shearwater Bridge event or met Camilla through the appropriate events, the Kittyfish will remain unavailable to you.

Locating Shearwater Bridge

Shearwater Bridge is one of the new locations added by Stardew Valley Expanded, and it serves as the exclusive fishing spot for Kittyfish. Finding this location is essential for your Kittyfish hunting expedition, especially since it’s not immediately obvious to players who are new to SVE.

Shearwater Bridge is located to the east of Pelican Town. If you’re starting from the center of town near Pierre’s General Store, head east past the medical clinic and continue along the path. The bridge crosses over the river that flows through the valley, creating the perfect habitat for various fish, including (once summoned) the Kittyfish.

What makes Shearwater Bridge particularly suitable for Kittyfish is its combination of flowing water and magical significance. In the expanded lore of SVE, certain locations serve as convergence points for magical energies, and Shearwater Bridge appears to be one such location. This explains why Camilla chooses this specific spot to summon the Kittyfish during the special event.

When you arrive at Shearwater Bridge, you’ll notice it has excellent fishing access points. The bridge itself provides an elevated position from which to cast your line, and the water below is deep enough to host a variety of fish species. Before the Camilla event, you’ll find other fish here, including Butterfish, which makes this location worthwhile for fishing even before you unlock the Kittyfish.

For players using the CJB Cheats Menu or similar fast-travel mods, Shearwater Bridge can be selected directly as a warp destination once you’ve discovered it. This can save considerable time when making repeated trips to fish for Kittyfish after unlocking them.

It’s worth noting that Shearwater Bridge has a distinct appearance during different seasons, with Fall offering particularly picturesque scenery with autumn-colored leaves decorating the surrounding trees. This seasonal beauty makes fishing for Kittyfish not just a gameplay objective but also a visually rewarding experience within the expanded world.

Triggering the Essential Camilla Event

The moment when Kittyfish actually become available in your game comes through a special event featuring Camilla at Shearwater Bridge. Understanding exactly how to trigger this event is crucial for Kittyfish hunters, as without it, these magical fish will never appear in your waters.

Willy’s Event Requirements

The journey to obtaining Kittyfish begins with Willy, Stardew Valley’s veteran fisherman. He plays a crucial role in introducing you to the fishing opportunities at Shearwater Bridge through a special event that serves as the foundation for eventually unlocking Kittyfish.

Willy’s event has specific trigger conditions that you must meet:

During this event, Willy will visit your farm and notice your developing fishing skills. Impressed by your progress, he’ll suggest that you try fishing at Shearwater Bridge, mentioning that the spot has potential for good catches and possibly increased profits. This conversation plants the seed for your future Kittyfish adventure.

What’s particularly important about Willy’s event is that it flags your save file with a specific event marker that the game checks for when determining whether to trigger the later Camilla event. Without this flag, the Kittyfish event chain cannot progress, regardless of your fishing level or relationship with other characters.

If you’re uncertain whether you’ve already experienced Willy’s event, check your event log if you’re using a mod that tracks events. Alternatively, visiting Shearwater Bridge regularly during Fall after meeting the other prerequisites will eventually confirm whether the Camilla event triggers, which would indicate that you’ve already seen Willy’s event.

Some players have reported issues with Willy’s event not triggering despite meeting all the requirements. If you suspect this is happening in your game, ensure that:

  1. You don’t have conflicting events scheduled for the same time period
  2. You’re actually on your farm during the 10AM-6PM window
  3. Your path to the farmhouse is clear so Willy can reach you
  4. Your SVE mod is updated to the latest version, as earlier versions had bugs related to this event

Meeting Camilla First Steps

Camilla is a unique character added by Stardew Valley Expanded who plays a pivotal role in the Kittyfish storyline. As a witch with considerable magical abilities, she’s the one who actually creates the Kittyfish during the special event. Before this can happen, though, you need to establish a connection with her character through specific storyline events.

There are two primary pathways to meet Camilla as required for the Kittyfish event:

Path 1: The Scroll Translation Event
This event involves Camilla translating a mysterious scroll for you. The exact triggers for this event can vary depending on your progression through other SVE storylines, but it generally becomes available after you’ve explored some of the new areas added by the expansion and discovered ancient writings that require translation.

Path 2: Introduction to Isaac
Alternatively, you can meet the requirement through an event where you’re introduced to Isaac, another character added by SVE. This event typically occurs as you explore the expanded social circle and storylines of the mod.

If you first encountered Camilla during the event where she takes you to Galdora, you’ll need to complete one additional event after that initial meeting before the Kittyfish requirement is satisfied. This additional step ensures you’ve progressed sufficiently through Camilla’s storyline to reach the point where the Kittyfish event makes narrative sense.

Camilla’s character is characterized by her playful and somewhat mysterious nature, often appearing suddenly and disappearing just as quickly after imparting wisdom or, in this case, creating magical fish. Her dialogue during the Kittyfish event reflects this personality, as she decides on a whim to make the fishing at Shearwater Bridge more “interesting” by conjuring the Kittyfish.

Meeting Camilla through either of these paths establishes your character’s connection to the magical elements of the SVE world, which is thematically important for the Kittyfish event. After all, without some exposure to magic and magical beings, the sudden appearance of cat-like fish in the river might seem out of place narratively.

Fall Season Town Entry Timing

The final trigger condition for the Kittyfish event is entering Pelican Town during the Fall season after all other prerequisites have been met. This seasonal timing is crucial and cannot be circumvented-Kittyfish are intrinsically linked to the Fall season in SVE’s design.

The moment you enter town during Fall with all other conditions satisfied, you should experience the special cutscene with Camilla at Shearwater Bridge. During this event, Camilla will appear while you’re fishing at the bridge and use her magic to summon Kittyfish into the water, making a comment about giving the Puppyfish “more friends to play with”. The event concludes with her typical dramatic exit, leaving you with a new fishing opportunity.

The seasonal restriction to Fall creates an interesting gameplay dynamic, potentially requiring patience if you complete the other prerequisites during a different season. This waiting period builds anticipation and integrates the Kittyfish quest into the game’s broader seasonal rhythm.

If you’re playing on a save that’s already in Fall and you’ve just completed the other prerequisites, simply entering town should trigger the event immediately. However, if you’re in a different season, you’ll need to wait until Fall arrives, which could mean several in-game weeks of waiting depending on your current season.

There’s a small consolation in the timing requirement: once you’ve triggered the Camilla event during Fall, Kittyfish become permanently available at Shearwater Bridge during both Fall AND Winter in subsequent years. This means you effectively have two seasons each year to catch them after the initial event.

Some players have reported that the event doesn’t always trigger on the first day of Fall or the first time entering town during Fall. If this happens to you, try entering town at different times of day throughout the Fall season. The event should eventually trigger if all prerequisites have been properly met.

Troubleshooting Missing Kittyfish Events

Even with a clear understanding of the requirements, many players encounter issues with triggering the Kittyfish event or finding the fish afterward. This section addresses common problems and their solutions to help you overcome any obstacles in your quest for the elusive Kittyfish.

Common Event Trigger Problems

The most frequent issue players encounter is completing what they believe to be all prerequisites, yet still not seeing the Camilla event trigger when entering town during Fall. Several common problems can cause this:

Problem: Insufficient Fishing Level
While the requirements state Fishing level 8 is needed, some players attempt to trigger the event with a lower level. Double-check your fishing skill to ensure it’s at least level 8. If you’re close but not quite there, consider:

Problem: Willy’s Event Wasn’t Properly Triggered
Some players miss Willy’s farm event or don’t realize it hasn’t occurred yet. This event specifically mentions Shearwater Bridge as a fishing spot. If you don’t recall this conversation:

Problem: Incorrect Camilla Prerequisite Path
The requirement to either see Camilla translate a scroll OR meet Isaac can be confusing. Some players misunderstand which events qualify. To verify:

Problem: Mod Conflicts or Outdated Mods
SVE is a complex mod that interacts with many game systems. Problems can arise from:

If you suspect a mod conflict is causing the issue, try temporarily disabling non-essential mods (keeping only SVE and its required dependencies active) to see if the event triggers.

Problem: Bug in Event Conditions
Earlier versions of SVE had a bug that could prevent players from unlocking the Kittyfish event if they hadn’t seen the Wizard’s basement event. If you’re running an older version of the mod, updating to the latest version can resolve this specific issue.

Fixed Bugs in Recent Patches

The development team behind Stardew Valley Expanded regularly addresses bugs and issues, including those related to the Kittyfish event and availability. Being aware of these fixed bugs can help you determine whether updating your mod might resolve your problem.

Version 1.15.8 Fix: Wizard’s Basement Event Link
A significant fix implemented in version 1.15.8 addressed an issue where players were soft-locked from unlocking several aspects of the game, including catching the Kittyfish, if they hadn’t seen the Wizard’s basement event. The patch notes specifically mention:

“Fixed an issue where players were soft locked from unlocking Morgan, interacting with the Shrine of Illusions, catching the Kittyfish, and Grampleton Field’s warp if players didn’t see the Wizard’s basement event.”

If you’re experiencing difficulties with the Kittyfish event and running an older version of SVE, updating to at least version 1.15.8 might resolve the issue.

General Event and Trigger Improvements
Throughout various updates, the mod team has improved event triggers and conditions across the board. While not all specifically mention Kittyfish, these general improvements contribute to more reliable event triggering:

Quest and Achievement Integration Fixes
Some updates have addressed issues with quests and achievements that indirectly affect Kittyfish collection:

Staying updated with the latest version of SVE is generally the best approach to avoid known bugs. The mod team is active and responsive to community reports about issues, meaning that most common problems are eventually addressed in updates.

Save File Verification Methods

If you’ve tried all the standard troubleshooting steps and still can’t trigger the Kittyfish event, verifying your save file’s status can provide insights into what might be wrong. SMAPI (Stardew Modding API) offers several tools and commands to help with this.

Using SMAPI Console to Check Event Flags
The SMAPI console can be used to check whether specific events have been triggered in your save file. This can help determine if the game recognizes that you’ve met the prerequisites for the Kittyfish event.

To check event flags using SMAPI:

debug event list

This command lists all events you’ve seen in your current save. Look for entries related to Willy’s farm visit and Camilla events. If they’re not listed, that indicates you haven’t properly triggered these prerequisite events.

Using Save Analysis Tools
For more detailed save analysis, you can use tools designed to examine Stardew Valley save files:

Manual Event Triggering (For Extreme Cases)
If you’ve verified that you meet all requirements but the event still won’t trigger due to a bug, you can use SMAPI commands to force event triggers as a last resort:

For Willy’s event (adjust the event ID as needed based on your SMAPI output):

debug event 75160266

For Camilla’s Kittyfish event (adjust the event ID as needed):

debug event 75160413

Note that manually triggering events should be considered a last resort, as it bypasses normal game progression and might have unintended consequences for related game systems.

Checking Fishing Location Data
You can also verify whether Kittyfish are properly configured to appear at Shearwater Bridge using:

debug fishlocations

This command shows all possible fish at your current location. If you’re at Shearwater Bridge during Fall or Winter after supposedly triggering the event, Kittyfish should appear in this list. If they don’t, that confirms there’s an issue with the event completion or fish availability.

If all verification methods indicate that you should have access to Kittyfish but they still don’t appear, consider reaching out to the SVE community on platforms like the Stardew Valley Discord or the Nexus Mods forums. Other players or even the mod developers might have insights into rare edge cases not covered by standard troubleshooting.

Perfect Fishing Strategy for Kittyfish

Once you’ve successfully triggered the Camilla event and confirmed that Kittyfish are now available in the waters of Shearwater Bridge, it’s time to focus on actually catching them. Like all fish in Stardew Valley, Kittyfish have specific behaviors and characteristics that influence how best to catch them.

Optimal Seasons and Weather

Kittyfish have specific seasonal and weather preferences that affect their availability and catch rates. Understanding these patterns will maximize your efficiency when fishing for them.

Seasonal Availability
Kittyfish are available during two seasons:

While the initial Camilla event must occur during Fall, once triggered, Kittyfish become permanent residents of Shearwater Bridge during both Fall and Winter of all subsequent years. This gives you two seasons each year to catch them, which is more generous than some other seasonal fish in the game.

Weather Preferences
Unlike many special fish in Stardew Valley that require specific weather conditions, Kittyfish can be caught regardless of weather. Whether it’s sunny, rainy, or even stormy, Kittyfish remain available at Shearwater Bridge during their seasonal windows. This weather flexibility makes them more accessible than fish that only appear during rare weather conditions.

Time of Day
Kittyfish are available throughout the day, from 6am to 2am. This extremely wide time window means you don’t need to plan your fishing expeditions around specific hours, giving you the freedom to fish for Kittyfish whenever it’s convenient within their seasonal availability.

Optimal Conditions Summary
For the absolute best Kittyfish fishing experience:

The lenient time and weather requirements for Kittyfish make them relatively accessible once you’ve triggered their availability. This design choice balances out the somewhat complex prerequisites for unlocking them in the first place.

Having the right equipment can significantly increase your chances of successfully catching Kittyfish, especially since they have a moderate difficulty rating that can challenge players with less-developed fishing skills.

Optimal Fishing Rod
For catching Kittyfish, consider using:

The Iridium Rod’s ability to equip tackle makes it substantially better for catching Kittyfish, as certain tackles can greatly assist with the fishing minigame.

Best Bait Options
While any bait will work for Kittyfish, certain options provide advantages:

Recommended Tackles
For the Iridium Rod, these tackles are particularly helpful for catching Kittyfish:

Fishing Buffs and Foods
Consuming certain foods before fishing can provide significant advantages:

Combining the right rod, bait, tackle, and food buffs can transform Kittyfish from a moderately challenging catch to a relatively easy one, especially for players who have already reached the required Fishing level 8 or higher.

Handling the Fishing Minigame

The Kittyfish has a fishing difficulty rating of 85 and mixed movement behavior, placing it in the moderately difficult category of fish to catch. Understanding its movement patterns and having strategies to deal with them is crucial for consistently successful catches.

Kittyfish Movement Pattern
With its “mixed” behavior type, Kittyfish combines several movement patterns during the fishing minigame:

This varied behavior makes Kittyfish somewhat unpredictable but also provides opportunities for strategic play during moments when it moves more predictably.

Minigame Strategy
To successfully catch Kittyfish:

  1. Start with a full-power cast to maximize your chance of hooking a Kittyfish rather than other fish species
  2. When the minigame begins, position your green bar slightly above where the fish initially appears
  3. Use short, controlled taps rather than holding the button for extended periods
  4. During dart movements, anticipate the direction by watching for slight movements before the full dart
  5. Take advantage of pause moments to reposition your bar to the center of the fish icon
  6. If using a Trap Bobber, you can briefly let the fish leave your bar during extreme movements, knowing the penalty is reduced

Perfect Catch Technique
For a “perfect catch” (never letting the fish escape your green bar):

  1. Focus intensely on the fish’s movement patterns for the first few seconds
  2. Position your bar to anticipate movements rather than reacting to them
  3. Keep your bar slightly larger than strictly necessary by using a Cork Bobber
  4. During especially erratic moments, prioritize keeping at least part of the fish within your bar rather than trying to center it perfectly

Handling Treasure Chests
If a treasure chest appears while fishing for Kittyfish:

  1. With a Treasure Hunter tackle: Catch normally, as the fish won’t escape while you’re collecting treasure
  2. Without Treasure Hunter: Quickly evaluate the fish’s behavior - if it’s momentarily stable, grab the treasure; if it’s erratic, consider prioritizing the fish unless you specifically need treasure items

With practice and the right equipment, even players at the minimum Fishing level 8 should be able to consistently catch Kittyfish despite their moderate difficulty rating. The key is patience and developing a feel for the mixed movement pattern that characterizes this unique magical fish.

Making the Most of Your Kittyfish

Once you’ve successfully caught Kittyfish, you have several options for utilizing them. From selling for profit to gifting to villagers, from stocking fish ponds to using them in recipes, Kittyfish have various applications that can enhance your Stardew Valley experience.

Selling Value Analysis

Kittyfish offer reasonable value when sold, making them a viable option for generating income, especially once you’ve satisfied other uses for them.

Base Selling Price
The standard selling price for a Kittyfish is 280g. This places it in the mid-tier of fish values - not as lucrative as legendary fish but more valuable than common varieties. The price makes Kittyfish worth catching for profit, particularly if you can catch them efficiently.

Price Modifiers
Several factors can increase the selling value of Kittyfish:

With optimal conditions (Iridium quality + Angler profession), a single Kittyfish can sell for a impressive 840g.

Comparison to Other SVE Fish
When compared to other fish added by Stardew Valley Expanded:

According to some players, Shearwater Bridge (where Kittyfish are caught) is considered one of the better profit-making fishing spots once you’ve unlocked all its special fish varieties. The combination of Kittyfish, Puppyfish, and Butterfish makes this location particularly lucrative for fishing-focused income strategies.

Economic Efficiency Analysis
While Kittyfish provide good value, evaluating their economic efficiency requires considering:

For most players, catching and selling Kittyfish is most efficient as part of a broader fishing strategy at Shearwater Bridge rather than exclusively targeting them, given their moderate spawn rate.

NPC Gift Preferences

Like all items in Stardew Valley, Kittyfish can be given as gifts to NPCs with varying reactions based on individual preferences. Understanding who appreciates Kittyfish can help you build relationships efficiently.

Characters Who Love Kittyfish (+45 Friendship Points)

Characters Who Like Kittyfish (+20 Friendship Points)

Characters Who Dislike Kittyfish (-20 Friendship Points)
Most other villagers dislike receiving Kittyfish as gifts, including Alex, Andy, Caroline, Claire, Clint, and many others. This makes sense in the context of giving someone a live fish, which wouldn’t typically be considered a thoughtful gift by most people.

Characters Who Hate Kittyfish (-40 Friendship Points)
A few villagers have a particularly strong aversion to receiving Kittyfish:

Strategic Gifting
For efficient relationship building:

  1. Prioritize giving Kittyfish to characters who love them, particularly Abigail, Lance, Magnus, and Morgan
  2. If you’re specifically working on friendships with these characters, consider keeping Kittyfish in storage rather than selling them
  3. For characters who merely like Kittyfish, consider whether you have better gift options before using Kittyfish

Given that several characters added by SVE have a strong positive reaction to Kittyfish, these magical fish serve as an excellent way to build relationships with the mod’s new NPCs, particularly Magnus and Morgan who can otherwise be challenging to find gifts for.

Fish Pond Possibilities

Fish ponds offer a way to breed and maintain a renewable source of Kittyfish, along with potentially valuable pond products. Setting up a Kittyfish pond can provide long-term benefits beyond a single catch.

Population Growth
Kittyfish can be raised in fish ponds with the following characteristics:

Pond Upgrade Quests
To increase your Kittyfish pond capacity, you’ll need to complete specific quests:

  1. First upgrade (2→6 capacity): Provide 15 Strange Buns
  2. Second upgrade (6→10 capacity): Provide 3 Sashimi

Each successful upgrade also grants 40 Fishing XP, providing a nice bonus for expanding your pond.

Pond Products
Kittyfish ponds can produce several items depending on the population:

The animal fur drop is particularly interesting as it creates a connection between the fish’s cat-like nature and its pond products, offering a thematically appropriate resource that’s otherwise mainly obtained from farm animals.

Economic Value of Pond Products
While Kittyfish roe isn’t the most valuable in the game, processing it in a Preserves Jar to create Kittyfish Caviar can significantly increase its value. Additionally, the cloth drops save you the processing step of turning wool into cloth, potentially streamlining your artisan goods production.

Aesthetic Considerations
Besides practical benefits, maintaining a pond of Kittyfish adds a unique visual element to your farm. The sight of multiple cat-like fish swimming in a pond creates an interesting focal point that showcases your progress in the expanded content of the mod.

Recipes and Crafting Uses

Beyond selling, gifting, and pond breeding, Kittyfish can be used in various recipes and crafting recipes, giving them utility in multiple aspects of gameplay.

Cooking Recipes
As a fish ingredient, Kittyfish can be used in several recipes:

While not specifically designed for Kittyfish, these recipes provide alternative uses that might be more valuable than selling the fish directly, especially when needed for quests or as optimized gifts for specific characters.

Crafting Recipes
Kittyfish can be used in certain crafting recipes as a generic “any fish” ingredient:

This usage can be particularly valuable early in the game when Quality Fertilizer helps maximize crop quality and profitability.

Achievement Contributions
Using Kittyfish in cooking contributes to several achievements:

For completionists, ensuring you use at least one Kittyfish for each applicable recipe is essential for achieving 100% completion in your expanded Stardew Valley experience.

Comparative Value Analysis
When deciding whether to use Kittyfish for recipes versus selling:

In most cases, the optimal strategy is to catch multiple Kittyfish and allocate them across different uses: some for selling, some for gifting to preferred NPCs, some for recipes needed for achievements, and at least one for starting a fish pond.

Advanced Kittyfish Knowledge

Beyond the basics of catching and using Kittyfish, there are deeper aspects to understand about these magical creatures. From detailed statistics to achievement tracking to lore connections, this section explores the more advanced knowledge that can enhance your appreciation of this unique SVE addition.

Complete Stats Breakdown

Understanding the detailed statistics of Kittyfish helps you optimize your fishing strategy and compare them effectively to other fish in the expanded game.

Basic Information

Fishing Parameters

Availability Parameters

Consumption Stats

Economic Values

Fish Pond Data

This comprehensive statistical profile positions Kittyfish as a moderately difficult fish with good energy/health restoration properties and decent selling value. Their moderate difficulty means they’re challenging enough to be interesting but not frustratingly hard like some of the legendary fish in the game.

Master Angler Achievement Path

The Master Angler achievement in Stardew Valley Expanded requires catching every fish in the game, including all those added by the expansion. Kittyfish forms an essential part of this challenging completionist goal.

Achievement Requirements
To earn the Master Angler achievement in SVE, you must:

It’s worth noting that some SVE fish, like the Razor Trout, don’t count toward this achievement because they’re classified as Monster Loot rather than Fish. However, Kittyfish absolutely does count and is required for completion.

Kittyfish in the Achievement Path
When planning your Master Angler journey:

  1. Prioritize unlocking Kittyfish early enough in Fall to give yourself ample time to catch one
  2. Remember that if you miss catching Kittyfish in Fall, you have another opportunity in Winter
  3. If you miss both Fall and Winter, you’ll need to wait until the next year to try again
  4. Consider saving before fishing sessions to reload if you fail to catch a nibbling Kittyfish

Collection Tracking Tools
To help track your progress toward Master Angler:

Challenging Aspects
Among SVE fish, Kittyfish presents a unique challenge due to its event-based availability rather than purely seasonal or weather-based spawning. This makes it one of the fish that players commonly miss when attempting the Master Angler achievement, alongside other event-based or rare spawn fish.

Some players have reported needing to use save editors to complete the Master Angler achievement if they encounter bugs with specific fish not spawning correctly. While this should be considered a last resort, it’s an option for players who have legitimately met all requirements but are experiencing technical issues.

Lore and Character Connections

The Kittyfish isn’t just a mechanical addition to Stardew Valley Expanded-it’s integrated into the expanded storyline and character relationships, enriching the narrative experience of the mod.

Camilla’s Character and Magic
Camilla, the witch who creates Kittyfish, is a fascinating character in SVE with her own storyline:

During the Kittyfish event, Camilla demonstrates her casual approach to powerful magic by deciding on a whim to make fishing “more interesting” before dramatically departing. This characterization adds depth to the magical elements of the SVE world.

Connection to Puppyfish
The Kittyfish isn’t created in isolation-Camilla specifically mentions that she’s giving the Puppyfish “more friends to play with”. This creates a narrative connection between these two special fish types:

Interestingly, despite this narrative connection, Puppyfish and Kittyfish only overlap in availability during Fall, as Puppyfish aren’t available in Winter. This creates a seasonal separation in their “friendship” that adds a subtle layer of complexity to the lore.

The Kittyfish serves as one of many touchpoints in SVE that expand the magical aspects of Stardew Valley:

The creation of Kittyfish demonstrates how SVE blends magical elements with the farming and life simulation aspects of the base game, creating a more fantastical yet still cohesive experience.

Player Reactions and Community Lore
The Kittyfish has become a beloved element among the SVE player community:

This community engagement reinforces the Kittyfish’s role not just as a game mechanic but as a memorable narrative element that enhances players’ connection to the expanded world of Stardew Valley.

Kittyfish Compared to Other SVE Fish

Stardew Valley Expanded adds numerous new fish to the game, each with unique characteristics, locations, and values. Understanding how Kittyfish compares to these other additions helps contextualize their place in the expanded fishing ecosystem.

Kittyfish vs. Puppyfish

The Puppyfish serves as the natural counterpart to the Kittyfish, with multiple similarities and differences that make comparing them particularly interesting.

Visual and Thematic Comparison

Statistical Comparison

Attribute Kittyfish Puppyfish
Seasons Fall & Winter Spring & Fall
Location Shearwater Bridge Shearwater Bridge
Difficulty 85 (Mixed) Higher (described as “annoying as super cucumber”)
Value ~600g with professions ~600g with professions
Fish Pond Products Roe, Animal Fur, Cloth Different but comparable value

Gameplay Differences
While similar in concept and value, there are notable gameplay differences:

Narrative Integration
In the SVE storyline, Camilla explicitly connects these fish during the Kittyfish event by stating that “the puppy fish have more friends to play with now”. This establishes them as companion species within the game’s narrative framework.

The complementary nature of these two magical fish species creates an interesting collection goal for players, encouraging them to catch both to complete the thematic pair. Their similar value but different seasonal availability also creates balanced fishing opportunities throughout the year at Shearwater Bridge.

Rare Fish Collection Strategy

Beyond Kittyfish and Puppyfish, SVE adds several other rare and valuable fish that collectors will want to target. Developing a comprehensive collection strategy helps ensure you don’t miss any of these unique catches.

SVE Legendary and Rare Fish Overview
While Kittyfish isn’t technically classified as a legendary fish, it shares some characteristics with the rare special fish added by SVE:

Notable rare SVE fish include:

Collection Planning by Season
To efficiently collect all SVE fish, plan your fishing activities seasonally:

Location Rotation Strategy
SVE adds numerous fishing locations, each with unique fish. An efficient collection strategy involves:

  1. Researching which fish appear at each location
  2. Creating a seasonal location rotation schedule
  3. Prioritizing event-based fish like Kittyfish when they become available
  4. Using fish-tracking mods to monitor collection progress

Tackling the Challenging Fish
Some SVE fish present particular challenges:

A comprehensive rare fish collection strategy treats Kittyfish as one component of a broader collecting goal, integrating it into a systematic approach to catching all the unique fish added by SVE.

Best Profit Fishing Locations

While fishing for collection purposes is important, many players also fish for profit. Understanding how Kittyfish contributes to profitable fishing locations helps optimize your income strategy.

Shearwater Bridge Profit Analysis
Shearwater Bridge, where Kittyfish are caught, is considered one of the better profit-making fishing spots in SVE. This is due to several factors:

During Fall, when both Kittyfish and Puppyfish are available simultaneously, Shearwater Bridge becomes particularly lucrative for profit-focused fishing.

Comparative Location Profitability
When compared to other SVE fishing locations:

Fishing Income vs. Other Money-Making Methods
While profitable, fishing should be evaluated against other income sources:

However, fishing at high-value locations like Shearwater Bridge remains competitive, especially:

Maximizing Shearwater Bridge Profitability
To optimize profits while fishing for Kittyfish and other valuable Shearwater Bridge fish:

  1. Fish during Fall when both Kittyfish and Puppyfish are available
  2. Use the Angler profession (+50% fish selling price)
  3. Focus on perfect catches to maximize quality (and thus value)
  4. Process Kittyfish roe from fish ponds into caviar for additional income

This approach allows you to pursue the collection goal of catching Kittyfish while simultaneously generating substantial income, creating an efficient dual-purpose fishing strategy.

Useful Tools and Mods

Beyond the core SVE mod, several complementary tools and mods can enhance your Kittyfish hunting experience and overall fishing gameplay. These additions range from information tools to quality-of-life improvements to specialized fishing mods.

Companion Mods for Fishing

While Stardew Valley Expanded already adds significant content to the game, including Kittyfish, additional mods can further enhance your fishing experience.

Essential SVE Companion Mods
These mods are either required for SVE or highly recommended for optimal functionality:

Fishing-Specific Enhancement Mods
These mods specifically improve fishing gameplay and can help with catching Kittyfish:

Information and Tracking Mods
These mods help you track your progress and provide useful information:

Convenience Mods
These mods improve quality-of-life aspects related to fishing:

When installing any additional mods alongside SVE, always check for compatibility. The SVE development team regularly updates compatibility with popular mods, but conflicts can sometimes occur, especially immediately after major updates to either SVE or Stardew Valley itself.

Save Editors for Extreme Cases

While most players will be able to trigger the Kittyfish event and catch these special fish through normal gameplay, technical issues sometimes make this impossible. In such extreme cases, save editors provide a last-resort solution.

When to Consider Save Editing
Save editing should only be considered in specific situations:

Save Editor Options
Several tools can edit Stardew Valley save files:

Kittyfish-Specific Edit Process
If you need to manually add Kittyfish to your game due to technical issues, here’s how to approach it:

  1. Using Stardew Valley Save Editor:

    • Create a backup of your save file
    • Open your save file in the editor
    • Navigate to the “fish caught” section
    • Add an entry for “(O)FlashShifter.StardewValleyExpandedCP_Kittyfish”
    • Set appropriate values for quantity and largest size caught

  2. Using Direct JSON Editing:

    

(O)FlashShifter.StardewValleyExpandedCP_Kittyfish



1
20

Ethical Considerations and Alternatives
Before resorting to save editing:

While save editing might feel like “cheating,” when used responsibly to overcome legitimate technical issues, it can be considered a reasonable solution that preserves your overall gameplay experience and progress.

Lookup Anything Configuration

The “Lookup Anything” mod is particularly useful for Kittyfish hunters, as it provides detailed information about fish locations, seasons, and other crucial data. Configuring this mod properly can significantly improve your fishing efficiency.

Basic Setup and Usage
To use Lookup Anything for Kittyfish hunting:

  1. Install the mod through SMAPI
  2. In-game, hover over a fishing spot and press F1 (default key) to see what fish can be caught there
  3. Press F1 while holding a Kittyfish to see complete details about it
  4. Press F1 on a fish pond containing Kittyfish to see possible products

Optimal Configuration for Kittyfish Hunting
Edit the mod’s config.json file to optimize for fish hunting:

{
  "Controls": {
    "ToggleLookup": "F1",
    "ToggleSearch": "F2"
  },
  "EnableTileLookups": true,
  "ShowAnimationData": true,
  "ShowDataMiningFields": true,
  "EnableLookupAnywhere": true
}

These settings enable:

Custom Data Fields for SVE Fish
Lookup Anything can be extended to show custom data about SVE fish. Create a “data.json” file in the mod’s folder with content like:

{
  "Fish:FlashShifter.StardewValleyExpandedCP_Kittyfish": {
    "EventRequirements": "Camilla's event in Fall after seeing Willy's Shearwater Bridge event",
    "IsModdedFish": true,
    "ModSource": "Stardew Valley Expanded"
  }
}

Search Functionality for Fish Collection
The search feature in Lookup Anything is particularly useful for tracking down specific fish:

  1. Press F2 (default search key)
  2. Type “kittyfish” to quickly look up its details
  3. Use wildcards like “fish:*” to see all fish in the game
  4. Use “fish:flashshifter.*” to see all SVE-added fish

When properly configured, Lookup Anything becomes an invaluable companion for Kittyfish hunters, providing instant access to critical information that would otherwise require consulting wikis or guides outside the game. This integration of information into your gameplay experience streamlines the fishing process and helps ensure you’re fishing in the right place at the right time with the right equipment.

Real Player Experiences and Case Studies

To ground our understanding of Kittyfish in real gameplay experiences, let’s look at how actual players have interacted with this unique SVE addition, from successful catching stories to creative uses to troubleshooting journeys.

Case Study 1: The Persistent Fisherman

Alex, a veteran Stardew player with over 500 hours in the base game, installed SVE in Winter Year 1 of a new save. After hearing about Kittyfish from fellow players, he set out to catch one as soon as possible.

He diligently raised his fishing skill to 8 by early Summer Year 2 and experienced Willy’s farm event recommending Shearwater Bridge. He then met Camilla through the Apple introduction event and completed the follow-up event.

When Fall arrived, Alex rushed to town on Day 1, but no cutscene triggered. After consulting forums, he realized he needed to actually visit Shearwater Bridge first. Upon doing so, the Camilla cutscene played, and Kittyfish became available.

Using an Iridium Rod with a Trap Bobber and Dish o’ The Sea buff, Alex caught a Gold-quality Kittyfish on his third attempt. He kept it in a display tank in his house rather than selling it, creating a centerpiece that visitors to his farm always commented on.

Case Study 2: The Collection Completionist

Maya was determined to get the Master Angler achievement in her SVE playthrough. She carefully researched all fish and created a seasonal calendar to ensure she wouldn’t miss any time-limited catches.

Despite her planning, the Kittyfish eluded her. She had reached Fishing level 10, seen Willy’s event, and met Camilla, but when Fall arrived, no cutscene triggered at Shearwater Bridge.

After extensive troubleshooting, she discovered she had installed a mod that accidentally conflicted with SVE’s event triggers. After removing the conflicting mod and using SMAPI console commands to check her event flags, she determined that the game didn’t register her as having completed Willy’s event properly.

Rather than edit her save, Maya decided to wait until Year 3, making sure to trigger Willy’s event again in Spring Year 3. When Fall Year 3 arrived, the Camilla cutscene finally triggered, and she was able to add the Kittyfish to her collection, finally achieving the Master Angler milestone she had been working toward for over two in-game years.

Case Study 3: The Fish Pond Experimenter

Jordan focused on creating an efficient fish pond operation on their Grandpa’s Farm map. After catching their first Kittyfish, they immediately created a pond for it, curious about what products it might yield.

At first, they were disappointed by the standard roe production. But as the pond population grew beyond 3 fish, they started receiving Animal Fur drops, which perfectly complemented their clothing crafting operation.

Using the Kittyfish’s fur production alongside wool from their sheep, Jordan created a specialized clothing production line that didn’t require maintaining as many sheep as would otherwise be necessary. They calculated that each Kittyfish in the pond effectively replaced about 0.25 sheep in their wool production pipeline.

For their farm’s aesthetic, they positioned the Kittyfish pond next to a Puppyfish pond, creating a “cat and dog” themed area that became a favorite screenshot spot they shared with the Stardew community.

Case Study 4: The Event Troubleshooter

Sam had a particularly frustrating experience with the Kittyfish event. Despite meeting all requirements and entering town on Fall 1, Year 2, no cutscene triggered. They tried every troubleshooting step available:

After exhausting all normal troubleshooting, they posted their save file to the SVE Discord. A helpful community member identified that they were running version 1.15.7, which had a bug preventing the Kittyfish event if players hadn’t seen the Wizard’s basement event.

After updating to version 1.15.8 which fixed this specific issue, Sam was able to trigger the event properly and finally catch the elusive Kittyfish. Their experience highlighted how even well-tested mods can have edge-case bugs, and how important it is to keep mods updated to their latest versions.

Action Steps Recap

To successfully catch and make the most of Kittyfish in Stardew Valley Expanded: reach fishing level 8+, trigger Willy’s Shearwater Bridge event, meet Camilla through a scroll translation or Isaac introduction event, enter town during Fall to trigger the special cutscene, and then fish at Shearwater Bridge during Fall or Winter using an Iridium Rod with a Trap Bobber for best results.

Further Resources

Kittyfish Patch History

Date Version Change Note Impact on Kittyfish
Mar 2025 1.15.8 “Fixed an issue where players were soft locked from unlocking Morgan, interacting with the Shrine of Illusions, catching the Kittyfish, and Grampleton Field’s warp if players didn’t see the Wizard’s basement event.” Fixed critical bug preventing Kittyfish event from triggering for some players
Jan 2025 1.15.6 Various fish pond adjustments and bug fixes May have affected Kittyfish pond behavior
Oct 2024 1.14.46 “Changed Razor Trout category designation from ‘Monster Loot’ to ‘Fish’” Razor Trout now properly appears with Kittyfish in fish collection
Aug 2024 1.14.xx Fixed various event triggering issues Improved reliability of Kittyfish event triggers
Apr 2024 1.13.xx Added new fish to various locations Adjusted relative rarity of Kittyfish
Dec 2023 1.12.xx “Increased ‘Butterfish’ and ‘Puppyfish’ catching difficulty” Made Shearwater Bridge fishing more challenging overall
June 2023 1.10.xx Various SVE fish pond adjustments Modified Kittyfish pond behavior and yields
March 2023 1.9.xx Initial introduction/adjustments to Kittyfish Added/refined Kittyfish to the game