diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 23e2825..746a571 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -67,10 +67,10 @@ test: clean buildlocal
 
 testlint: test lint
 
-lint:
+lint-basic:
 	golangci-lint run --enable-only errcheck,govet,ineffassign,staticcheck,unused
 
-lint-full:
+lint:
 	golangci-lint run --show-stats=false
 
 testfuzzy: clean
diff --git a/cmd/api.go b/cmd/api.go
index beccd6f..ad49604 100644
--- a/cmd/api.go
+++ b/cmd/api.go
@@ -91,6 +91,12 @@ func ApiRepl(conf *cfg.Config) *cli.Command {
 				Aliases:     []string{"p"},
 				Sources:     cli.EnvVars("PAGER", "ES_JSON_PAGER"),
 			},
+			&cli.BoolFlag{
+				Name:        "human-readable-cat",
+				Usage:       "enable human readable /_cat output",
+				Destination: &conf.HumanCat,
+				Aliases:     []string{"H"},
+			},
 		},
 
 		Action: func(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
diff --git a/pkg/cfg/config.go b/pkg/cfg/config.go
index 628c92a..3ee5605 100644
--- a/pkg/cfg/config.go
+++ b/pkg/cfg/config.go
@@ -101,7 +101,8 @@ type Config struct {
 	MaxDocs, MaxShardSize, MaxShardDocs int  // roll over
 	DryRun                              bool // rollover: -n
 
-	Tag string // api ls: -t
+	Tag      string // api ls: -t
+	HumanCat bool   // api repl: -H
 
 	Ilm Ilm // ilm create
 
diff --git a/pkg/es/api.go b/pkg/es/api.go
index c8e71b2..8710b7b 100644
--- a/pkg/es/api.go
+++ b/pkg/es/api.go
@@ -45,22 +45,25 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	intro = `Input format: verb path [data]"
-
-Example:
-
-post /yourindex/_ccr/pause_follow
-put /yourindex/_settings {"number_of_replicas": 1}
-
-You can also put multiline JSON after the path like:
-
-put /yourindex/_settings
-{
-  "number_of_replicas": 1
-}
-
-If you do NOT  supply a JSON in the first line, you  need to hit ENTER
-twice to complete.`
+	intro = `# Input format: verb path [data]"
+# 
+# Example:
+# 
+# post /yourindex/_ccr/pause_follow
+# put /yourindex/_settings {"number_of_replicas": 1}
+# 
+# You can also put multiline JSON after the path like:
+# 
+# put /yourindex/_settings
+# {
+#   "number_of_replicas": 1
+# }
+# 
+# If you do NOT  supply a JSON in the first line, you  need to hit ENTER
+# twice to complete.
+#
+# Supply the flag --human-readable-cat, -H to view /_cat API calls in
+# human readable form.`
 )
 
 // holds an API operation via go-openapi/spec
@@ -143,7 +146,11 @@ func ApiRepl(conf *cfg.Config) error {
 			fmt.Printf("failed to call API: %s\n", esErrorString(err))
 		}
 
-		pageJsonOutput(conf, raw)
+		if conf.HumanCat && strings.HasPrefix(parts[1], "/_cat") {
+			fmt.Println(string(raw))
+		} else {
+			pageJsonOutput(conf, raw)
+		}
 	}
 
 	//nolint:nilerr
@@ -216,8 +223,10 @@ func CallAPI(conf *cfg.Config, verb, path, data string) ([]byte, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	req.Header.Add("Content-Type", "application/json")
-	req.Header.Add("Accept", "application/json")
+	if !conf.HumanCat && strings.HasPrefix(path, "/_cat") {
+		req.Header.Add("Content-Type", "application/json")
+		req.Header.Add("Accept", "application/json")
+	}
 
 	// make sure we have got all we need
 	if err := conf.DefaultCluster.CheckAuth(); err != nil {