Alleyway Wit & Bagel Crumbs: Tyler Dewhirst on Nibbles & Scratch
Two alley cats, a bagel shop, and a city that never notices when animals start talking. That’s the world of Nibbles & Scratch, Comics Kingdom’s newer strip from cartoonist Tyler Dewhirst. I sat down with Tyler for an episode of Inside the Kingdom to talk about how these two cats found their voices, why the city feels like another character, and how he balances belly laughs with those little aches that sneak up on you. The strip debuted in late 2024 and updates every Wednesday and Sunday.
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Meet Tyler (and the cats that wouldn’t leave)
Tyler grew up in Massachusetts, spent his days doodling characters from TV and the funnies, and eventually two regulars kept showing up in his sketchbooks: Nibbles and Scratch. Their DNA was buddy comedy, but over time Tyler shaped them into something gentler, odder, and more observant—two cats who don’t always keep up with street life, but see its truths with sharp clarity.
“Nibbles has this paranoid naivete,” he told me, “and Scratch is more willing to just accept things.”
Scratch is his favorite (gentle, nice) but he admits he’s more like Nibbles. Relatable.
Why cats? Why a bagel shop?
The practical answer: Tyler worked at a bagel shop. Unsold bagels headed to the dumpster every day. That image stuck, and it became both backdrop and metaphor. Add in Demetri, the bristly manager, and Anaya, the warmhearted staffer, and suddenly you have a cast that reflects the grind of work, waste, and how people treat each other.
The bigger answer: animal characters let Tyler write outsiders. They’re innocent, they misunderstand, and that misunderstanding cracks open the absurdities of daily life. An exterminator sighs, “They’re basically just guys.” A cop shrugs, “They’re cats, what do you want me to do?” That’s the fun—the city never blinks.
The world as a cast member
The alley, the shop, even the dumpster aren’t just scenery. They carry mood. Tyler keeps things specific but quiet—street grime, a late-shift ache, the kind of scaffolding you’re not supposed to notice but that makes everything feel real. As a friend once told him, “The dumpster is a character.” He agrees.
The emotional range
Some strips are pure gag. Others leave you with a small ache. And once in a while, Tyler aims for a “cold shower”—a comic that resists easy laughs or easy catharsis. He’s even saving a Christmas story that will lean into that discomfort. He wants to see how far a four-panel can stretch without losing warmth.
What’s next for Nibbles & Scratch
- More Demetri and Anaya moments, digging into their nine-to-five lives.
- A run of Scratch stories built around his earnest attempts to help.
- Nibbles navigating the perils of dating (absurdity guaranteed).
- Demetri at the gym—a tender arc about loneliness, routine, and awkward change.
Where to Read + Listen + Follow
Read the strip: Nibbles & Scratch on Comics Kingdom
Hear the full episode: Inside the Kingdom with Tyler Dewhirst
Follow Tyler on Instagram: @TylerDewArt
