Frankly, not sure how I felt about this one. It was well-written, but I honestly cannot say that I enjoyed reading it. The conceit is interesting, and each vignette is distinct. From the description, it sounds like this is going to be a whimsical collection of charming stories about people and cats. It is both less and more than that. There were elements of magical realism, but it is not a work of magical realism. As a whole, the book feels incoherent. Do not expect this to be a feel-good book with a happy ending. All of the stories are at best, melancholy, and at worst, distressing. There is some animal cruelty/endangerment. I was left feeling a bit unsettled once I finished the last story. There was really no one to root for-except for one cat- every character met in the course of this book was unlikeable, some kind of hateful. I was not sure why I was reading most of the time. In the end, I just did not understand the point of this book. Whatever the author was trying to convey, it was lost on me.

Charming seems to be the way this book is described, and I concur. It's so charming. Don't make the mistake of feeling this is a superficial "cute," book.

This is a collection of stories, in which people "rent" cats for three days, and three days only. It seems the cats almost have the intuition to give to them what they need. It could be said that the people who rent them have a need, and that's why they sought this out, but either way, the stories are so well done.

If you believe that we are fortunate to have animals in this world, this book is for you.

If you don't like a particular story, it's structured so you can skip without missing something.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and Net Galley for a digital copy of The Blanket Cats in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheBlanketCats #KiyoshiShigematsu #NetGalley

Kiyoshi Shigematsu’s The Blanket Cats was a hit novel in Japan, and was even adapted for TV in 2017. Now the mystery of the Blanket Cats is brought to American audiences with this English translation of the famed Japanese work.

Imagine being able to rent out a kitty companion for three days at a time. You get the benefits of having a feline friend, albeit temporary, without all of the headaches of pet ownership. Much like the infamous Gremlins of ‘80’s pop culture lore, the Blanket Cats come with certain rules: Blanket Cats can only be rented for three days, they must eat the food provided by the shop, and they must travel with their special blanket. Although it is never explained, it seems that the cats’ “magic” comes from their blanket, and if they are separated from it, there’s no telling what hell might break loose.

Each person who rents a Blanket Cat has their own reason for doing so. From those who rent a cat to ride shotgun on a road trip, to those who select a cat hoping that it can fill the void of a pet long lost, the Blanket Cats are borrowed for a variety of reasons, but it is truly the cat who determines what these humans need. Suffice it to say, at the end of the three days, no one’s lives are quite the same after borrowing a Blanket Cat.

Although I frequently enjoy Japanese fiction, books about cats are not my usual cup of tea; however, I was hoping to get a cozy, healing read with The Blanket Cats, which is why I selected this novel. Much like how Blanket Cats borrowers go into a rental with certain expectations only to be surprised by the outcome, I too quickly learned that this book is quite different from what I was anticipating.

Surprisingly enough, the Blanket Cats are not the main focus of this novel. Rather, they serve as a plot device to tell the story of seven people desperately in search of something to bring meaning and focus to their lives. These are not comforting, cozy stories, but rather those of people down on their luck or in sad and struggling situations. They rent a Blanket Cat hoping that the cat can fill a void, but rather, it is the cats who help reveal the truths that were there in front of their borrowers’ faces all along.

I admittedly found The Blanket Cats to be a difficult novel to pick up, primarily because I am a mood reader and was set on reading a novel that was light-hearted and healing, which this book is certainly not. There are many dark and depressing topics covered in this novel, and hardly no happy endings. The Blanket Cats themselves only play minor roles in these stories, hanging out on the periphery while their human borrowers sort out their personal issues and find truth and meaning in their lives. This is a fine book if you go into it with the correct assumptions, but those looking for a heartwarming, feel-good read won’t find it here.

Perhaps an overly critical 2 stars but IMO I was hoping for something cozier given the cover and title… from the sinopsis I knew it wasn’t a mega cozy story BUT some stuff def still made me feel a little down. NOT a bad book, just not the vibe I thought it was. 2.5 rounded to 3

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the early copy of The Blanket Cats by Kiyoshi Shigematsu! 🫶🏻🐈

The Blanket Cats is a charming collection of stories of people who get to experience the company of the “blanket cats,” but only for three days. These well-trained but often life-changing cats offer companionship to the cast of characters at what often seems like just the right time, often guiding them through hardships and providing valuable life lessons.

This was quite a quaint and charming read, exactly what I seek when reading a cat book. It is fast-paced since it is written in individual stories, each with their own quirky set of characters and lessons to discover. I loved the concept of the cats being life-changing despite only being with the owners for three days (because cats simply are that life-changing). I rated this a 4/5, only because I was more drawn to some of the stories over others. “The Cat No One Liked” was probably my favorite of the short stories. If you are a lover of cats, this is certainly worth a read!

A unique pet shop in Tokyo offers a special opportunity for customers to take home "blanket cats", but only for three days. Seven customers, with different situations, take home seven special cats, whose "magic" isn't promised, but seems always to be received. When each cat is taken home, there are rules: they must always have their distinct blanket, they can only eat the food provided by the pet shop, and they can only stay for three days.

These seven customers hope a temporary feline companion can bring them some joy. The different situations range from infertility to running from the police, and other difficult circumstances. But like all cats, these blanket cats are mysterious and have their own agenda and expectations. Is three days enough to change a life or how these customers see life?

The Blanket Cats by Kiyoshi Shigematsu is translated by Jessee Kirkwood from Japanese. I enjoyed reading this quiet, cozy book which follows the lives of customers of a pet shop that rent cats for 3 days. Each cat has a special blanket. During the time that the cats are in temporary ownership, they have a way of opening up the lives of the people who have rented them. While everyone who rents a cat has something going on in their life, these heart warming cats end up teaching the people about themselves. This book is short and follows the lives of 7 different people. This is a nice heartwarming book that was nice to curl up with.

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

The Blanket Cats -Each chapter in this book tells a story.

Some people, their lives and the way they end up renting a cat for 3 days and 2 nights from the pet shop, named The Blanket Cats.

There are all sorts of people who gets those cats. Ranging from a kid who is a bully as well, to the lady who stole funds from the company where she worked, a couple who cannot have kids, people who are witnessing their loved ones grow old, a couple whose apartment building does not allow pets. Then comes cats a cat who likes to travel, cats who went to family who is at the verge of losing home.

It’s a compilation of stories in which tiny moments bring realizations and sometimes presence of these cats do the same.

When I first saw the name of this book, I ended up expecting a cozy read. The experience of reading the book was a bit different. There were moments of cozy nature but other than that it was more like a slice of life kinda book.

One thing is for sure, once I picked it up I couldn’t put it down until I finished reading it.

Rating : 4/5
…

Thank you @netgalley and Putnam Books for sending me an e- ARC of this book.

I was very hopeful about this one but in my reading found that the stories didn’t ever feel complete and far too many details (like the blankets and the reason for them) remained unresolved.

This one was, unfortunately, not for me.



Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for the DRC

What a book. Not my usual romantasy, HEA, pick. I was first enamored by the title and cover, which to me are so reminiscent of a lot of the other cat type books popping up these days (‘We’ll Prescribe You a Cat’, ‘Full Moon Cat Cafe’, ‘Before the Coffee Gets Cold’, etc.) Afterwards it was the description which caught my attention.

The stories were poignant and moving, without any of the ‘gloss’ found in many other books I read. As enchanting as the cats were (and they really were), it is the characters lives expressed so deeply in so few pages which will stay with me for a long time.

Would recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for an e-ARC of Blanket Cats!!

Blanket Cats is a collection of 7 short stories/ novellas about individuals who rent a pet cat for 3 days. All of the characters in the story are going through some sort of dilemma (be it cancer, fertility problems, bullying/ suicide, home/ family problems, marriage issues, etc.) and use the rental of the cats to sort of put a band-aid on their issues while they attempt to remedy the situation in whatever way they see fit.

While this book did take me quite a while to read, I did enjoy it. The Blanket Cats opened a door for the characters to figure out the issues in their lives, giving closure, or whatever they needed. I think the concept of renting a pet for a few days is really cute, I don’t think it would work in America. The overall story was a powerful read, and at many points I found myself on the verge of tears. A lot of these problems the characters faced are very real issues for many people and families in any country (sickness, financial problems, family issues, and more). I think the story was translated well, I enjoy Jesse’s translations, and I actually really like how each novella ended in a sort of “limbo” where us, the readers are left to draw our own conclusions.

The more Japanese fiction I read, the more I am enjoying the genre. Thank you again for this opportunity to read the e-ARC!

A sweet story about cats that emotionally support the people whose lives they walk into. A beautiful story of vignettes of people touched by the blanket cats. I will say it was a bit slow at times, and I may have enjoyed it more on audio, but still recommend! I gave it 3.5 stars! Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the E-ARC.

Book Review: The Blanket Cats by Kyoshi Shigematsu
⭐️ (1/5)

As a fan of Japanese translated fiction and someone who adored We’ll Prescribe You a Cat, I was immediately drawn to The Blanket Cats. The premise—a heartwarming collection of stories about cats being lent out to humans in need—sounded right up my alley. Paired with an irresistibly cute cover, I couldn’t wait to dive in. Unfortunately, this book was a huge disappointment.

The concept of “blanket cats”—cats who carry small blankets for comfort—felt underdeveloped and ultimately pointless. The blanket aspect is barely explained and seems more like a gimmick than something integral to the stories. What’s worse, the book leans heavily into melancholy, touching on sensitive topics like infertility, bullying, and other struggles, without offering much in the way of resolution or hope.

Instead of heartwarming or whimsical moments, the stories focus on the darker, often cruel sides of human nature. As a cat lover, I spent most of the book worrying about the cats’ well-being rather than connecting with the human characters. The tone is overwhelmingly bleak, and the stories feel incomplete, often ending abruptly without meaningful conclusions.

If I’m being honest, this would have been a one-star read for me. But the cover is so charming that I’ll give it an extra star just for that.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is one of the few books containing cats I was not entirely pleased with. First of all it was short stories, which in not much into. I enjoy longer plotted out tales. And second it just wasn't that happy good feeling most quirky Japanese takes are.

This was such a quirky compilation of short stories, bound together by the titular blanket cats. I think something may have been lost in translation, given some of the cultural attitudes that informed these characters decisions, so I may not have fully grasped the narrative as the author intended. But overall it was a sweet, quick read.

What is it about cats that makes them so incredibly intuitive? In The Blanket Cats, Shigematsu sets out to explore how the lives of several individuals are changed by cats from a special kind of pet store accompanied by their own special blanket.

I’m giving this interesting novel three points for the unique premise somewhat similar to “ We’ll prescribe you a cat. “ However, I found this book really hard to get into and was not able to finish. I just couldn’t connect with the characters and maybe it was the translation, but that is just my opinion.

The Blanket Cats seemed like it could be another cozy Japanese novel with the cats taking on cutesy, whimsical roles but instead it presented opportunities to reflect on the many types of grief we as humans can experience. It addressed the grief of knowing your life will be cut short; the grief of being unable to create life; the grief of relocation; the grief of disconnection; and so much more. The cats themselves serve as the odd vehicles for addressing the grief except for the final bit that is told from a cat's perspective. I liked that part best as the shift in viewpoint allowed for a different kind of examination of grief.

Oof... I'll preface with the fact this book was really good, just not what I expected. I thought it would be something along the lines of "We'll Prescribe You A Cat" in the feel-good vibe it gave, but I was far from correct. The premise you could rent a cat for three days for one reason or another seems like a heartwarming concept. However, for majority of the stories I found myself on edge and truly fearing for the cats. This could be chalked up to me being a sensitive cat lover, but i had to step away from the book on a few occasions because I thought I'd be sick with worry. That being said, the writing captured my attention and had me so enthralled that it invoked that deep of a emotional and physical response; a task that so few authors can accomplish. I'd say this was more of 4.5 stars, only because I wish a trigger warning was included to prepare me for the heart racing situations that occurred in the novel.

I absolutely adored this beautiful collection of stories that showed how knowing a cat can change anyone’s life for the better (even knowing the cat for only three days).
These characters are all beautifully flawed and human so they’re relatable and I found myself tearing up during a few memorable heartwarming endings.

My favorite story was the one from Tabby the cat’s POV. In Tabby’s story, he feels called to venture away from the relative safety of his blanket and ends up befriending some kids who are going through a really difficult situation. Tabby helps the kids find their way and then leaves and we’re left assuming he is on his way to help the next person.

Tabby’s story was one I connected with because I was saved by a special cat showing up at just the right moment. I truly believe I would not be here today to share this review with you had this stray cat not shown up and decided that I was her human. We didn’t end up having a long time together but it made ALL the difference to me.

I can’t recommend this book enough. I’m so grateful for my e-copy provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Putnam books and NetGalley!