‘A Man And His Cat‘ is a slice-of-life manga series created by Umi Sakurai. It was originally published as a webcomic on the website Pixiv before being picked up by Square Enix for physical release in Japan and the United States.

A lone cat in a Japanese pet store is watching as other cats are being adopted. He is the runt of the group, lumpy, and homely, making him seem unappealing. One day, recently widowed teacher Fuyuki Kanda comes into the pet store and adopts the cat, naming him Fukumaru. Mr. Kanda has never had a pet and Fukumaru has never had an owner, thus the two have a lot of growing to do when it comes to sharing a home.

Personally, I am not a cat owner and have always preferred dogs. When my wife asked if I would be interested in reading this, I was hesitant. Not because I do not like slice-of-life, but because I thought it would be slow. I was not wrong on that, but it turned out to be its strength.

The manga takes its time in telling Fukumaru and Kanda’s story, helping you see from both their perspectives their situation. We also get glimpses into Kanda’s personal life with scenes with his friend’s group, his professional situation, and, through flashbacks, we get to see his late wife. These moments make the story flow easy and gives you a break from the harshness life can throw your way.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, or novel you would like me to review. While you are at it, check out my manga highlights of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Vol. 1 and Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody Volume 1. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more posts like this one.

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