The most important characters in the short story “Kittens” by Dean Koontz are Marnie Caufield and her father, Walter Caufield. Marnie’s mother, Mary, is also present. However, she is mostly a passive character who does not influence the action. She stands by and allows her husband to make all the decisions concerning Marnie, and also fails to stop Marnie at the end when she heads up to the twins in a rage. The twins themselves are mostly featured indirectly.
Marnie Caufield is the main character of the short story. The events are generally seen through her eyes, and the reader has access to her thoughts and feelings. She is mostly defined by her worry that God will take her kittens again, and her anger when her father kills the kittens.
Marnie’s father, Walter Caufield, is also very important to the plot. His actions and his attitude towards Marnie will be what drives her over the edge. Walter Caufield also serves the purpose of showing the dangers of fanatical religion and what it could lead to.
You can read a more detailed description of the characters in the following sections.