Ever since the great Soseki Natsume viewed the madness and hypocrisy of Meiji-era Japan through the eyes of a cynical feline in I Am a Cat, we’ve been crazy for stories that emphasize the cat-human bond. Given the pedigree (pun very much intended) of Natsume’s work, it is probably unsurprising that the most enduring and popular novels revolving around the wisdom and/or comfort of cats should emanate from Japan. Books by Hiro Arikawa, Takashi Hiraide, Makoto Shinkai, and others have become modern classics, and even non-Japanese authors, like Nick Bradley, feel compelled to root their tales in the Land of the Rising Sun.
From kaleidoscopic portraits of the richness of society to intimate, uplifting stories of hope and change brought about by feline sagacity, the books recommended in this blog are all soul-soothing reads for bad days that make you feel just that little bit better about the world. So, pull up a comfy chair, prepare a warming brew, and settle down with the best cat-based fiction.