Cats are very diverse, you know!
Usually, the main characters in manga are human beings, or just simply someone humanoid-looking. But what about cats? Surely, cats are widely regarded as harbingers of some fuzzy and fun feelings, of cuteness and wholesomeness. And some of the manga in this list of cat-related works fit this description.
However, we included some of the more somber stories, just to spice things up. Even cats can be moody!
The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again Today
When the human who adopted you cannot look after themselves, you gotta take matters into your own paws. That's exactly what made Yukichi so masterful: he was adopted by a good-for-nothing Saku and, in order to survive, he had to evolve, learn housekeeping skills, and literally grow up. He's a huge cat, larger than a regular human, one who walks on two legs, takes care of the house, cooks delicious meals, and knows the garbage schedule. This is the story about him and his owner, office worker Saku, who at first seems just like a person who cannot do anything considering household chores, but as the story unravels in this 4-koma manga, she becomes much more interesting. So does Yukichi.
Cat Soup
Onto something morally questionable. Cat Soup is filled with dark humor, snide remarks, pain, and violence. The world, depicted from the point of view of two cats, is cruel but has a lot of parallels to ours and showcases the worst parts of it, to the point that it can appear shocking. The story contrasts with the overall art style, where the cats are cute and round, but the things they do or say are far from being wholesome. This combination feels like a fever dream, with all its good and bad sides.
Chi's Sweet Home
This is a classic of a slice-of-life story told from a cat's perspective. Chi, a lost kitten, finds a new family who's willing to break a few rules for her, because their apartment complex doesn't allow pets. And it's so worth it: Chi brings so much joy to the family, and, sure, she's a little bit too active and curious, being a small kitten who learns how the world works, but her antics are cute and heartwarming.
Junji Ito's Cat Diary: Yon & Mu
Those of you who know Junji Ito only as the author of the most mind-wrenching horror stories, please read this autobiographical story where Junji Ito tells about his real life experience with cats. His fiancée decided to bring her cat to their new apartment and suddenly adopted another one. Junji, who was not a fan of cats before, has to learn to live with two. And he manages. Now imagine his signature drawing style used in the story about the daily life of a newly converted cat lover. The contrast is amazing.
A Man And His Cat
This manga started as a self-published webcomic and won over the Internet with its pure wholesomeness. It's about the older cat Fukumaru who lives in a pet shop. No one's interested in him, everybody wants kittens, until one old man, Kanta, who is recently widowed, stops by his box and decides to bring him home. Both Fukumaru and Kanta have so much love to give, and the series focuses on their daily life: how they get used to each other, learn things about each other, and help each other with solitude. This slice-of-life story perfectly balances this lighthearted vibe without diving into saccharine sentimentality, adding a bit of humor and some somber moments.
The Walking Cat
The name is a parody of a very popular zombie show, and the manga itself portrays the zombie apocalypse from a cat's point of view. Yuki, a brave and curious white cat, tries to survive in the post-apocalyptic world ruled by zombies. His human companion, Jin, tries to find an island where his wife is rumored to be alive. But together with Yuki they have to first deal with this unfriendly and undead world. The story shows Yuki’s perspective on some humans that the pair encounters on this adventure, it's quite deep and touching, and for some of these characters Yuki becomes a ray of hope in the devastated world.
Nyankees
Think you're a seasoned gangster? In your mind, you're a jacked and scary dude? Maybe, but in reality, you are a street cat. Nyankees is a story about cat gangs that portrays strays as human street thugs. It can feel a bit confusing, so they are not shapeshifting cats — they are just cats, showing the cats as human is simply an interesting visual metaphor. So each character has two designs — the human version and the cat version, and the art constantly switches back and forth between them. It mixes humor and darker themes together quite well, though the story doesn't get too deep, but the concept is worth paying attention to.
I Am a Cat Barista
Some of us feel like the city puts us through a grinder with the never-ending tasks and rush and hustle mentality. For weary souls like this one special cafe located between the busy streets opens its doors. The workers of this cafe are cats, and the barista will find a drink that suits you best, because his goal is to make you feel better and leave the cafe in a lighter mood. The story is quite simple, but the artwork is great, the character development is solid, and the overall mood of the story is heartwarming.