diff --git a/main/bin/cat.hoon b/main/bin/cat.hoon
index d1c70f613b..3ff2f5afb2 100644
--- a/main/bin/cat.hoon
+++ b/main/bin/cat.hoon
@@ -7,4 +7,16 @@
 ^-  gift  :-  %te
 %-  zing
 %+  turn  ape  |=  pax=path
+^-  wain
+=+  ark=;;(arch .^(%cy pax))
+?~  q.ark
+  ?-  r.ark
+        ~
+      ~[(crip "No file {(spud pax)}")]
+        [[@t ~] ~ ~]
+      $(pax (welp pax /[p.n.r.ark]))
+        *
+      ~[(crip "Multiple in {(spud pax)}")]
+  ==
+:-  (crip (spud pax))
 (lore ;;(,@t .^(%cx pax)))