I wanted to fall into this book and love it, but I actually struggled to like it. I was expecting it to be a cosy read about cats helping people get over difficult situations, but it wasn't as cosy a read as I was hoping, and I didn't really like a lot of the characters. Not one for me, unfortunately.

This is the second book I have read by Syou Ishida, I really enjoyed "The Travelling Cat Chronicles" so much, that when I saw this book advertised I was looking forwards to reading it. From the front cover to the back his love and appreciation for cats is apparent.

On the top floor of an old building at the end of a cobbled alley in Kyoto lies the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul. Only a select few - those who feel genuine emotional turmoil - can find it. The mysterious centre offers a unique treatment for its troubled patients: it prescribes cats as medication.
In the book we meet some delightful cats and their patients. Each person is dealing with a different issue from anxiety to heartbreak over the loss of a much loved pet with the help of their chosen companion they find hope and strength.

This is a delightfully charming and witty book about the power of cats to both sooth and calm the human soul. And the connections that we humans share with our furry friends.

It is universally acknowledged that "Dogs have owners, and cats have staff". Anyone who owns a cat or is a lover of them will appreciate this book and finish having a read it with a smile on their face.

Thank you to Netgalley and Doubleday Publishing for giving me an advanced copy of this delightful book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A sweet series of stories in where cats are prescribed to help people with their emotional pain. It was heartwarming and uplifting to see how the people prescribed these cats dealt with their issues.

I would recommend this book to people who want some uplifting stories with some magical realism sprinkled through the story. Plus the cats are super cute!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK, and Transworld Publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

As a veterinarian and cat lover, of course I have to read this book! We'll Prescribe You a Cat is a best-selling Japanese-translated literary fiction with an element of magical realism, celebrating the bond between humans and cats and the healing power of cats. This book takes us to an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, named the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul, which can only be found by people who are struggling in their lives. Directions are cryptic, and its future patients will only hear about the clinic indirectly. What is puzzling is the patients are prescribed, not with pills, but cats for a recommended duration and specific instructions.

The book is a collection of 5 short and separate stories of characters having their own struggles and emotional turmoil in life but somehow loosely connected with each other. The common theme of the stories is the cats in each story help its characters to find comfort, insight and optimism to navigate their struggles despite their initial reluctance.

I loved how the cats are described in this book, one cat was described as "a fluffy tennis ball" or the way their paws are described as "supple yet springy, with a resilient feel like memory foam". I also loved the different perspectives and how the author connected the characters with each other.

As the story goes on, the author adds mystery to the clinic, and I loved knowing more about what the clinic stands for when I finished the book. It had an open-ending because there is a second book, and I hope it will be translated soon!

Overall, it is a hopeful and heartwarming book that will resonate with those who love Japanese literature, literary fiction, magical realism, and cats!

Published 5 September 2024 - a novel for lovers of cats and Japanese translated works. This charming little book comprises of interconnected short stories and the idea behind them is utterly different. Down an alley, which is difficult to find because sometimes it is there and sometimes it isn't, there is a clinic, a clinic which has been recommended by a friend of a friend of a friend - you now what I mean. Even when you find the clinic, the door will not always open. Those who do manage to gain entrance are suffering from anxiety, from insomnia, from guilt and the list goes on. The receptionist/nurse is at times rude and cold and the doctor listens and immediately prescribes a cat to teat the problem. The cat arrives in a carrier and comes with a leaflet describing its care and a bag of essential supplies and a note of the duration of the treatment - 7 days, 10 days or what ever. And then we follow these individuals as they take their 'medicine'. The stories are heart-warming and at times funny as a coupe of the 'patients' are totally bamboozled at being handed a cat! But what comes over is the bond that forms between a cat and a person. A cat might not solve a problem but it can provide love and hope. And- there is a supernatural element/thread to the story as well that slowly becomes apparent. The cats are sweet little characters in their own way and I love the illustrations at the beginning of each story to introduce them. A sweet little book for cat lovers everywhere, but be warned - you might need a tissue or two.

Another one of those novels that would like to push you to think that there is still hope for humanity, especially when supported by the love of a cat. Only for those who loved the coffee-before-it-gets-cold series.

Un altro di quei romanzi che ti vorrebbero spingere a pensare che c'é ancora speranza per l'umanitá, specialmente se supportata dall'amore di un gatto. Solo per chi ha amato la serie del caffé prima che si freddi.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

This book is such a little gem!
Each story holds well on it's own and I really enjoyed them.
It makes you laugh and cry. Definitely a must read!!

I'm honesty gonna do a reread on the beach<3

Thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The book features a variety of characters, each with their own form of emotional baggage. The cats in each story aren’t just pets; they are portrayed as therapeutic companions that guide their owners through their emotional turmoil. I found the main characters delightful and curiously odd which had me wondering about them all the way through.

One of the central themes is the special bond between humans and their pets. What comes across is that the cats in each story provide comfort, warmth, and a sense of hope to their owners. The book delves into how these felines help the characters navigate their struggles and find resolution. What I also liked was the experience of the Japanese culture and how it differs from ours especially in the workplace.

In summary an uplifting and fun book that highlights the therapeutic power of cats and our love for them. Through it’s characters and heartfelt and comforting storytelling, it offers a unique perspective on the healing bond between humans and our feline friends. The art work at the beginning of each story is beautifully done and adds to the books charm. Puurfect for cat lovers.

After reading this I do wonder if there’s a clinic that specialises in therapy for cats after having to put up with the owners and their problems..

4.5 stars!

This is sort of a short story collection with interconnected stories about this mysterious clinic that prescribes its patients cats.
The stories were short and sweet - the first few especially were really funny, as the characters tried to grapple with the fact that they suddenly had gotten prescribed cats as medicine.
The last story was my favourite though, and really touched me. I recently unexpectedly lost a cat to chronic kidney disease, and this story also dealt with the grief of loosing a cat too soon, yet healing that wound through bonding with a new cat. Needless to say, I bawled my eyes out :')

Highly recommend if you're a cat lover or like slice of life stories with a whiff of magic to them.

A collection of short stories of different people attending a magical health clinic, whe the prescriptions are cats to help ease emotional pain. A very cute book which tackles different aspects of mental health in a light and humorous way.

I loved this book and once I finished, I immediately had to tell my cat obsessed friend all about it. This delightful book is a loosely connected series of short stories that all centre around a mysterious clinic. People who visit are suffering from various mental conditions such as anxiety and insomnia. Each person is prescribed a cat unique to their situation. For some the cats create chaos and problems for their temporary owners, though it’s forcing the owner to realise that they weren’t happy and need to change. For others it helps them focus on something else in their lives, forming a deep bond or wonder at their cute little cat, or even helping to improve family relationships. We also explore a subtle undercurrent of mystery surrounding the clinic itself.

I found this book utterly charming and so easy to read. It was a warm hug of a read, with sweet and delightful cats, characters who needed a bit of help but were inherently good, and a strange and curious mystery surrounding the clinic.

A delightful collection of short stories about a magical clinic in Kyoto where cats are given as therapy to people in emotional pain. Each story focuses on different characters who find comfort and healing through their unique feline companions.

Perfect for cat lovers and fans of Japanese fiction, “We’ll Prescribe You a Cat" is a charming and uplifting book that celebrates the joy and comfort that cats bring into our lives.

A lovely feel good read, whilst in parts there are sorrow and sadness, with cats you get this unexpected and surprising joy which just gets you. A fantastic concept which is so well executed, a perfect introduction to translated and Japanese fiction for any reader and a good one for someone who just needs some time to think, reflect and share the joy. The book highlights so many important benefits of cats and the link between the struggle with work and mental health which I haven’t ever read before!

Its just possible that I have reached peak "cosy fantasy set in Japan with cats" point but I didn't connect with this book at all. None of the characters seemed real and I didn't understand the whimsical/fantasy element at all.
It has a great title and cover but wasn't for me at all

This book is written in the style of serial short stories— common in Japanese writing. The atmosphere of this book is very magical an fun —and focuses on the benefits of pets ( in this case cats ) for mental health therapy. You can read this book in one sitting or take your time and read one story a day— I think by taking time to read the stories you are less likely to get tired of the theme and situations. I always enjoy reading books about cats as I am allergic and can’t have one but I can enjoy them and their personalities through books. In this book the magical feel that the doctor always knows which cat would be the best fit for the patient was nice. My favourite story was Koga`s as I felt he had the biggest transformation — as the cat allowed him to develop a better relationship with his family and coworkers as well as being more open and understanding of others changing his mind set from a more traditional style to a more modern style. The stories focus on things that are commonly issues in Japanese society or focus on way of thinking and gives a good insight into mental health struggles and social expectations in Japan . The translation was well done and Is full of fast paced stories.


Thank-you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers | Doubleday for this ARC. This is my honest review.

A dreamy story that begins in a fun and whimsical way and finishes on a melancholy and emotional note, this book had a more expansive range than I was initially expecting. A impactful book for anyone who has lived with, loved, and lost pets and would like to immerse themselves in the healing power of cats.

What worked for me:
● The writing style had a dreamy feel to it; as typical with translated works, word count is sparse because each word is used intentionally - this succinct yet impactful style really works for me!
● The first section focusing on Shuta does a wonderful job at laying the foundation of the clinic. Because so much care is put into this section, this book doesn’t have the repetition across the sections that other Japanese serial shorts tend to which helped the flow, pacing, and overall story development beautifully.
● The range of emotions I felt while reading this surprised me: the scene where bewildered Shuta encounters the doctor for the first time made me laugh out loud, how both Aoba and Megumi were treated as children infuriated me, I felt the pain and loss that Abino felt.
● Finding out the origins of the clinic and both the doctor and the nurse’s backstories and purpose in setting it up was a treat.

What I wasn’t so keen on:
● Some of the characters and themes felt misogynistic (this was particularly bad in Koga’s story) and I didn’t love how job-obsessed some of the characters were either (Tomoka’s attitude toward Daigo quitting his job made was kinda gross).
● The promotion of Scottish Fold cats. Scottish Folds are doomed to carry osteochondrodysplasia so they’re often in pain for the duration of their lives. People find them cuddly and docile but this is likely because they’re not physically able to play, jump, and tear around like other cat breeds. Find out more about Scottish Folds and why some jurisdictions are advocating breeding them be banned. (https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/getting-a-cat/scottish-folds#ban)

I’m going to buy this book when it comes out. It’s definitely one to revisit and enjoy!

I was privileged to have my request to read this book accepted through NetGalley. Thank you so much, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers!

On the top floor of an old building at the end of a cobbled alley in Kyoto lies the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul. Only a select few - those who feel genuine emotional pain - can find it.

The mysterious centre offers a unique treatment for its troubled patients: it prescribes cats as medication.

I really enjoyed this! Great story and very funny.

I often feel like apologizing for not finishing a book, but this one wasn't for me... The story had a feeling of being a modern day fairytale, but it was a bit simplistic, superficial.

A truly beautiful book about the incredible healing power of cats.

This book is lovely and I have already pre-ordered a hardback copy as well as recommending to friends and family!

This was much better than some of the Japanese translated novels I've read recently. I liked the idea of the book, where the prescription patients receive is a cat! And although I have to admit to being a dog person, not a cat person, I still really enjoyed this story and all the many different kinds of cats involved. Really it's lots of interconnected short stories, but there is an arc running through so it doesn't just feel like a short story collection. The writing style is quite minimalistic, and perhaps some readers won't get on with that. But I rather liked the directness, and the stories did keep making me smile, especially all the people who didn't read the instructions that came with their cat. It *almost* made me want a cat.