This 7-foot rod is made of black wood and topped with a carved knob that resembles a cat's head. It functions as a +1 quarterstaff. When it is held, the bearer gains low-light vision and gets a +10 competence bonus on Climb, Hide, and Move Silently checks. Once per day the wielder can make the rod of cats the target of a darkness spell, although the wielder and anyone else touching the rod can see through this darkness as if it didn't exist. The rod has a secret compartment (Search DC 25 to find) large enough to hold a set of thieves' tools or a scroll.