MEOW #76: Reversing the Spell

[madhatter5]

Hi all and welcome to the seventy-sixth installment of the MEOW!

The answer to this meta is an oxymoron.

Lynx:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing
https://crossword.info/kvassword/Reverse_the_Spell

Break a toenail!

Kitten
Calico
Persian unless I'm lying
Puma
Lion

[whimsy]

"And did he mention, un chat enchante..?"

[MMe]

Awfully good

[oldjudge]

I think the cat is free—confirmed. Really a great puzzle; there are some very good guest constructors but there is only one Josh.

[Meg]

The cat had to be dragged screaming and scratching to the answer. Dumb cat. But she made it out of the bag thanks to friendly Muggles.

[boharr]

As my cat mentioned upon leaving the couch, it takes a village.

[ChrisKochmanski]

This bag is less one cat!

That was fun, Josh. Thanks!

[SJMcK]

Hooboy. I think I’ve solved it.

Confirmed. The cat is out of the bag.

[Schmeel]

Spell's reversed, cat's gone. Now to go find another familiar.
Thanks for the puzzle!

[Dplass]

The cat's free. Thanks for the puzzle!

[woozy]

Close.... close.... know what to do. Just don't know where......

By the way, does anyone actually use 13D?

[lbray53]

The cat is out of the bag, with assistance. I was pretty lost.

[Dplass]

Close.... close.... know what to do. Just don't know where......

By the way, does anyone actually use 13D?

There's actually a restaurant with that name not too far from me.

[Bird Lives]

It always takes me longer when I do it in .PUZ and the clues disappear off the right-hand edge and I don't notice the asterisks. But at last the cat is out of the bag.
.

[woozy]

Wow. I am continued to be perplexed. I know what I must do but not where to do it. I try all reasonable places (including a rather explicit instruction from the constructor) but every attempt is gibberish. And yet other people get it. I could really use a nudge.

EDIT: Oh good lord. I don't think I can remember a meta where I've been so close for so long and yet miles away. I knew what to do. And I did it in the right place. and I tried 6 times but... typos and errors and brain farts, I never saw it.

A very tricky puzzle. Be careful.

[madhatter5]

Nudge Saturday!

The corner entries are hinting at a certain cipher, related to the title, which needs to be employed

Apply the cipher to the initial letters of the themers

One final "reversal" and you'll land the plane!

[MarkWoychick]

OK, I think I have it with the hints. The author is clever, this “solver,” not so much.

Confirmed, cat is out of the bag with some time left to enjoy the weekend.

[Laura M]

Hint #1: I knew that
Hint #2: I DID THAT

...oh wait, I wasn't looking at it the right way...
*headslap*

Nice one!

(@woozy, I was right there with you!)

[benchen71]

Even with the nudges I still can't see what to do! Any chance of another nudge?

[madhatter5]

Nudge for Ben

A TO Z might be the entry that most clearly hints at the cipher. Consider this in conjunction with the notion of reversal