"Helix the Cat" is a science fantasy short story by American writer Theodore Sturgeon. The story was written in 1939 or 1940 and submitted to John W. Campbell, editor of Unknown and Astounding Science Fiction magazines. The editor rejected it, as he felt it did not fit into either fantasy or science fiction categories. The manuscript was placed in storage, thought lost by the author, and returned to him about thirty years later. It was published, without any alterations, in Astounding: The John W Campbell Memorial Anthology, in 1973.