Dark Cat is a free Jekyll blog template that pairs the Jekyll static site generator with Bootstrap styling and a dark-mode-first design.
What is Dark Cat?
Dark Cat is a free, downloadable Jekyll template for building static blogs and content sites. It takes Markdown posts and Jekyll configuration, then produces a static HTML site styled with Bootstrap. The project is published on GitHub by mesinkasir, and an accompanying documentation and tutorial is hosted at hockeycomputindo.com. Two live demos show the template in action: a dark version at mesinkasir.github.io/darkcat and a light version at whatshop.pages.dev.
Key Features
- Dark and light variants — the default look is dark, and a light re-skin is demonstrated at a separate pages.dev URL, giving you two starting points.
- Bootstrap-based layout — the repository description calls it a "bootstrap injection," meaning the template wires Jekyll output to Bootstrap responsive components.
- SEO-oriented structure — the GitHub metadata describes the project as a "new generation jekyll template boostrap injection with SEO," so the file structure is set up for search engine optimization.
- Ready-made pages — the included screenshots show Home, Blog listing, Article detail, and a custom 404 page, so the core page set of a content site is already present.
- Jekyll-native organization — it is listed under jekyll-blog, jekyll-site, jekyll-theme, and related topics, indicating the standard Jekyll posts–pages workflow applies.
- Free download — the source code is available without cost, per the title "free download source code gratis."
- Live demo deployments — a dark demo runs on mesinkasir.github.io/darkcat and a light demo runs on whatshop.pages.dev.
Who is it for?
- Personal bloggers who want a dark-themed Jekyll blog without designing a layout from scratch.
- Web developers who need a minimal Jekyll + Bootstrap starting template to extend for client sites.
- Designers who want to compare dark and light presentations of the same content structure before choosing a direction.
What can you do with Dark Cat?
- Content creators: publish Markdown articles and get a styled blog with article detail pages and a listing page.
- Hobbyist coders: experiment with a Jekyll and Bootstrap integration that includes SEO hooks.
- Freelancers: use the free template and documentation to deliver a simple static site to small businesses.
Pricing
Dark Cat is free to download and use; no paid tier or premium version is mentioned in the repository.
Alternatives
Other free Jekyll themes include Minimal Mistakes, which uses a more traditional multi-layout approach, and Chirpy, which provides a built-in blog with category and tag archives.
FAQ
Is Dark Cat free to use?
Yes, the template is distributed free of charge. The repository description explicitly says "free download source code gratis," and all source files are available on GitHub.
Does Dark Cat support dark mode?
Yes. The template is built around a dark color scheme, and the main demo at mesinkasir.github.io/darkcat shows the dark look. A separate light version is also available for preview at whatshop.pages.dev.
What framework and CSS library does Dark Cat use?
Dark Cat uses Jekyll as the static site generator and Bootstrap for the responsive CSS framework. This combination means you work with Markdown and Liquid templates for content, while Bootstrap handles the visual system.
Can I use Dark Cat for something other than a blog?
Although it is designed as a blog template with a blog listing page, the included home and article templates can be adapted for portfolio or company content. The 404 page is also custom, so the template is not limited to traditional blog posts.
Who maintains Dark Cat?
The template is published on GitHub under the username mesinkasir, and its documentation and tutorial are hosted on hockeycomputindo.com. The author also links a "Buy me a coffee" page for optional support.
