Cats

Pocket Bear / Katherine Applegate, Charles Santoso (Illustrator)

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Pocket Bear
By: Katherine Applegate, Charles Santoso (Illustrator)
Genre: Middle Grade, Magical Realism
Number of Pages: 272
Published: September 9, 2025
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Dates Read: September 2, 2025
Format: ARC / eBook

Zephyrina is a trash-diving, chaos-loving cat, who has been deemed “The Cat Burglar” by the neighborhood due the treasures she brings back home. Some of those treasures are stuffed toys and when they’re brought back, the daughter of the home will clean them up, make any repairs needed, and then put them up for “adoption” at her Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured. Pocket, the unofficial mayor of Second Chances Home is Zephyrina’s best friend and he’s who both welcomes and looks after the stuffies during the night while the humans sleep.

When Zephyrina brings back a teddy bear a local collector has her eye on, things turn interesting at home.

I already knew when I saw Katherine Applegate had a new book coming out that I was going to want to read it – I also knew I would probably get at least a little teary eyed because that’s what she does to me in all her books. The concept of this book being about a little pocket bear – a tiny teddy bear born during WWI that was designed to fit into the pocket of a soldier’s jacket with their eyes sewn a bit higher than normal so that they’re always looking up – was already getting me emotional because, as a young girl, I would get emotionally attached to stuffed animals, and you’re telling me soldiers would take these little teddy bears with them into battle?! Secondly, his best friend is a cat, so I was already obsessed!

If you mix together some historical fiction, current events, and Toy Story you’ve got yourself Pocket Bear. Though this book is aimed at younger audiences, I’m 33 and absolutely loved it. I think anyone who ever had any connection to a stuffed animal would adore this book. Also, anyone who loves cats would enjoy this as well since Zephyrina is the narrator.

Overall, this is an adorable book that readers of all ages would enjoy and appreciate, especially those who wish magic upon their stuffed animals.

*Thank you Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Cat + Gamer (Volume 8) / Wataru Nadatani, Zack Davisson (Translator)

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Cat + Gamer (Volume 8)
By: Wataru Nadatani, Zack Davisson (Translator)
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 160
Published: August 25, 2025 (1st Published April 18, 2022)
Publisher: Dark Horse Manga
Dates Read: September 1, 2025
Format: Library Book / eBook

Riko must figure out how to manage her apartment with two cats as her company is getting ready to move.

What a fitting ending to this slice of life series! Yes, at only eight volumes, this series has come to an end – but it does so perfectly in my opinion. No crazy, twisted ending. Again, just a slice of life story about a gaming obsessed office lady who gets two cats.

I read this entire series through my public library, but I think I’m going to be going about purchasing the volumes myself down the line as I can see myself wanting to randomly read through them in an afternoon.

It’s still crazy to me how the author captures the sassy personalities of cats in just a simple panel. There are times I look at my younger cat and see Musubi’s face…

Overall, an excellent series and a wonderful ending.

Nights with a Cat (Volumes 1-5) / Kyuryu Z

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Nights with a Cat (Volume 1)
By: Kyuryu Z
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 128
Published: July 12, 2022
Publisher: Yen Press
Dates Read: August 31, 2025
Format: Library Book / Paperback
Nights with a Cat (Volume 2)
By: Kyuryu Z
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 128
Published: October 18, 2022
Publisher: Yen Press
Dates Read: September 1, 2025
Format: Library Book / Paperback
Nights with a Cat (Volume 3)
By: Kyuryu Z
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 128
Published: March 19, 2024
Publisher: Yen Press
Dates Read: September 1, 2025
Format: Library Book / Paperback
Nights with a Cat (Volume 4)
By: Kyuryu Z
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 128
Published: December 17, 2024
Publisher: Yen Press
Dates Read: September 1, 2025
Format: Library Book / Paperback
Nights with a Cat (Volume 5)
By: Kyuryu Z
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 128
Published: April 22, 2025
Publisher: Yen Press
Dates Read: September 1, 2025
Format: Library Book / Paperback

An adorable and sweet manga about living with a cat, even one that’s technically not even yours.

Fuuta is a bit wary of his sister’s cat when they first move in, but Kyuruga quickly establishes Fuuta as their favorite human and P-chan as the “substitute human”.

This manga talks about all the fun things that happen living with a cat: ways to pet a cat, methods a cat uses to ask for attention, places cats love to sit, toys cats love to play with, and many more.

Anyone who loves cats will love this manga and those who ever wondered what living with a cat really is like.

Feral (Volume 3): Nine Lives / Tony Fleecs (Writer), Trish Forstner (Illustrator), Tone Rodriguez (Illustrator), Brad Simpson (Colorist)

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Feral (Volume 3): Nine Lives
By: Tony Fleecs (Writer), Trish Forstner (Illustrator), Tone Rodriguez (Illustrator), Brad Simpson (Colorist)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Horror
Number of Pages: 136
Published: August 6, 2025
Publisher: Image Comics
Dates Read: August 18, 2025 - August 19, 2025
Format: Library Book / eBook

After their narrow escape from the lady, Elsie and the indoor cats are saved by a new duo, who bring them to the challenge of getting into the abandoned pet supply store. But once inside, their world gets even more hellish than before.

So we’re definitely getting Walking Dead vibes with the constantly moving, feeling safe for all of five seconds, and then something bad happens. I would love to see this change or for it to get shaken up in some way in future issues.

I’m quite curious to see how exactly the disease is transferred, because they talk about it a bit and it was different than I thought it would be.

I am rooting for Elsie because I’m mostly tired of everything bad happening because of her – it’s not always her fault (cough, cough Lord)… also, she’s trying okay. Sometimes not the smartest decision, but still!

Overall, this still ended on a crazy cliffhanger and I’m upset I’ve got to wait!!

The Gato Taco: A Hilarious, Rhyming, Spanish-Sprinkled Children’s Book / Didi Dragon, Lenaska Ti (Illustrator)

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The Gato Taco
By: Didi Dragon, Lenaska Ti (Illustrator)
Genre: Children’s
Number of Pages: 36
Published: November 28, 2024
Publisher: Aha! Press
Dates Read: August 10, 2025
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

When Gato the cat smells a taco, he’ll do anything to get a bite, even with the muchacho telling him “Tacos are NOT for gatos!”

Do I have any children?

No.

Did I put a request in for my library to purchase this title after seeing the title alone in a presentation?

Yes.

Have I now had nearly all of my librarian coworkers read it?

Also yes.

This is just super cute and funny with the mixing of Spanish words with the English words, I definitely came away from this having learned new Spanish words.

Cat Companions Maruru and Hachi (Volume 4) / Yuri Sonoda

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Cat Companions Maruru and Hachi (Volume 4)
By: Yuri Sonoda
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 160
Published: August 5, 2025
Publisher: Seven Seas
Dates Read: August 9, 2025
Format: Library Book / Paperback

The street cats get moved to a larger room where they meet two kittens and an older senior cat. As the care for the felines continues, so does the readers’ understanding of everyone’s past, including Yasuo and his love for cats.

I absolutely love learning more and more about our beloved characters as we get further and further into this series. We learn about Yasuo and his past and his first cat love. We also see Hachi getting more and more comfortable with humans (which reminds me of how my cat took 3 years to really warm up to my partner). I also love his patience with the kittens – like, he’s still annoyed with them, but he doesn’t really take offense to their young craziness.

Oh, I learned a bit more about baby kittens (and their poop) than I did before, so there’s that.

Overall, another cute and adorable volume of this series. Cat lovers will still enjoy it.

Cat Companions Maruru and Hachi (Volume 3) / Yuri Sonoda

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Cat Companions Maruru and Hachi (Volume 3)
By: Yuri Sonoda
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 160
Published: April 15, 2025
Publisher: Seven Seas
Dates Read: August 2, 2025
Format: Library Book / Paperback

Stray cats Maruru and Hachi now live in the shelter where Yasuo the Catnapper works. They adjust to shelter life, but that doesn’t mean Hachi lets his guard down. They’re joined by some new (old) friends as they get a new lease on life.

Why must I get teary eyed while reading this series?! Learning Kedama’s back story was like stepping into a room full of cut onions!

I love how gentle Yasuo is with the cats and how he’s never upset with the cats, but will reevaluate and try again with a new tactic.

Overall, anyone who loves cats, will love this series; you get perspectives from both the cats and the humans in this.

Cat + Crazy (Volume 1) / Wataru Nadatani, Zack Davisson (Translated)

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Cat + Crazy (Volume 1)
By: Wataru Nadatani, Zack Davisson (Translated)
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 168
Published: July 29, 2025 (1st Published March 18, 2016)
Publisher: Dark Horse Manga
Dates Read: July 29, 2025 - July 30, 2025
Format: Library Book / eBook

High schooler Kensuke Fuji adores cats, but has only ever watched the street cats from afar since his family members are all allergic. But then he meets —-, the ultimate cat whisperer guru. He proves himself worthy of being his student to be taught under the Cat Fist Way.

This is a rather cute, but silly look at the love people have for cats.

It did take me a moment to get into this because I thought it was going to be a bit “too silly”, but I turned out to love it and am excited for my new obsession from this mangaka. Speaking of the mangaka, I still adore how they are able to draw the cats in both realism and cartoonish at the same time.

Overall, another cute manga that all cat lovers are bound to adore and ultimately relate to as well.

Feral (Volume 2): Cat Lady / Tony Fleecs (Writer), Trish Forstner (Illustrator), Tone Rodriguez (Illustrator), Brad Simpson (Colorist)

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Feral (Volume 2): Cat Lady
By: Tony Fleecs (Writer), Trish Forstner (Illustrator), Tone Rodriguez (Illustrator), Brad Simpson (Colorist)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Horror
Number of Pages: 136
Published: March 12, 2025
Publisher: Image Comics
Dates Read: July 9, 2025
Format: eBook

Volume Two opens where Volume One left off: Patch is infected, Lord is missing, and Elsie is with cats she barely knows. After having to run from the safety of their abandoned barn due to rabid rats, Elsie, Gigi, and Gigi’s kittens find themselves captured by a crazy cat lady whose house is definitely high on the creepy scale.

I again loved the story of this collection and cursed the cliff hanger (one of the many reasons I wait until volume collections come out because reading as individual issues come out would be the death of me).

The art of this is still superb – childlike, but filled with horror; makes some of the scary parts even more terrifying.

Overall, this series is something I’m going to count the days down to for every volume release. This is perfect for those who love horror and aren’t afraid of some gore.

Simon’s Cat vs. the World (Simon’s Cat #4) / Simon Tofield

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Simon’s Cat vs. the World (Simon’s Cat #4)
By: Simon Tofield
Genre: Comics, Humor
Number of Pages: 104
Published: May 6, 2024 (October 4, 2012)
Publisher: Akashic Books, Ltd.
Dates Read: May 25, 2025
Format: Paperback

A collection of Simon’s cat(s) exploring the world around them and (mostly) getting into trouble.

I’ve been a fan of Simon’s Cat on youtube for ages, but haven’t read any of the graphic novels/comics, this was a fun little read.

Beautiful in full color and hilarious in silliness, this book is sure to crack a smile – especially for cat owners.

*Thank you Akashic Books, Ltd. and LibraryThing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review