In IRON NEST: Heavy Turret Simulator, the real star aside from the mighty artillery is surprisingly your cat companion. Far from just a decorative pet, this feline friend adds a unique charm while you manage massive firepower, sometimes even walking in your way during critical moments.
The cat is your feline companion in the game, and it can walk around the Iron Nest and hang out in the crew quarters. It can even get in your way while you are trying to operate the biggest gun imaginable. You can also customize the cat and decide whether it can access the upper areas of the Iron Nest or not.
In this guide, I will tell you how to unlock the cat in IRON NEST: Heavy Turret Simulator and customize its appearance. I will also guide you on how you can get it back when you can’t see it on your screen.
To locate your cat, start by pressing Esc to open the clipboard menu. Head over to the Game options where you'll find the cat settings. The cat feature is enabled by default, but here you can also allow your cat to explore the upper levels of the Iron Nest by toggling the respective option.
Press Esc to open the clipboard.
From there, select Game options. There you’ll find the cat settings. The cat is enabled by default, so you don’t have to change anything.
You can also find an option that allows the cat to go upstairs. Enable it if you want your cat to roam around the entire Iron Nest.
How to customize the cat?
Customizing your cat is straightforward and adds a personal touch to your companion. Access the customize cat section found just below the basic cat settings within the same menu.
Open the customize cat options from the same menu mentioned above. The customization section appears below the basic cat settings.
Here, you can tweak several features such as eye color, fur shade, ears, nose, and cheeks, allowing you to create a feline that might resemble your own pet or something completely unique to the Iron Nest world.
So, yes, you can have your personal cat sitting beside a massive dieselpunk artillery machine.
Where can I find my cat?
Your cat mostly roams the crew quarters downstairs, but if you’ve enabled the upstairs option, it can explore the entire artillery station. It tends to wander off, so you might not always see it immediately.
If you lose sight of your cat, quickly bring it back by opening and then closing the cat customization menu. This causes the cat to respawn next to the hatch downstairs, saving you the trouble of searching the entire Iron Nest for a small, elusive feline.
Sometimes you may not see it right away. The cat likes to do its own thing.
There is also a quick way to bring it back.
Open the cat customization menu and then close it again. Your cat will spawn next to the hatch downstairs.
That is much faster than searching the entire Iron Nest for a small furry creature.
How to move the cat?
The cat sometimes gets underfoot, which can be a minor distraction during artillery work. This is part of the game’s charm, adding an unpredictable element to your otherwise precise operations.
That is part of the experience.
When you need it moved, press G to shoo the cat away. Alternatively, press F to pick up the cat and place it somewhere else within the Iron Nest, giving you full control over your feline friend's whereabouts.
You can also pick up the cat and move it somewhere else. Press F to pick it up and place it where you want.
Personally, I think moving the cat away from your workstation should be considered a much lower priority than actually firing the giant cannon.
But the option is there.
Can the cat help with artillery calculations?
Don't expect your cat to assist with artillery calculations—it won’t help with the trigonometry or firing solutions. However, it serves as a cozy companion and emotional support as you adjust coordinates and prepare the huge turret.
Your cat cannot help with the trigonometry or calculate the firing solution needed to destroy enemy positions.
At least not yet.
The cat can provide emotional support while you measure coordinates, adjust the hydraulics, and prepare the artillery.
Can I rename the cat?
The cat's name can be changed, but be aware some players report that it occasionally resets to the default name, Hastur. If this happens when you try to rename it by pressing E, know that you’re not alone in this quirk.
So if your custom name keeps disappearing after pressing E, you are not the only one who has run into that problem.
The cat may have simply decided that Hastur is a better name.
But if your name is not disappearing, you can choose some of my favorite names for your cat:
- Rosa
- Benji
- General Paws
- Admiral Whiskers
- Major Meow
- Captain Mittens
- Sergeant Paws
- Lord Whiskerton
- Marshal Fluff
- Commander Cat
Ultimately, the cat in IRON NEST: Heavy Turret Simulator isn’t about boosting gameplay mechanics but about adding character and companionship. It wanders around, sometimes gets in your way, and reminds you of life beyond artillery blasts.
The cat does not improve your artillery calculations or make the Iron Nest more effective. It simply exists, walks around, gets in the way, and occasionally reminds you that there are more important things in life than destroying enemy positions.
With options to customize its appearance, move it at will, and allow it free roam of the Iron Nest, the cat adds an unexpectedly personal and warm touch to this heavy-duty war simulation.
And honestly, that is enough.
