The Blanket Cats by Kiyoshi Shigematsu
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Deceptively emotional and heartbreaking

The Blanket Cats by Kiyoshi Shigematsu is a Japanese translated fiction comprised of 7 short stories written in different narrative styles.

Seven customers, all living in different circumstances visit a Tokyo pet store, all seeking happiness in the form of a cat companion.

But there are rules: the cat must be returned after three days, and each cat must sleep in their own blankets.
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This books cover is deceptive. You imagine a cute little story about a cat seeking a new home.

However, this is not the case. The Blanket Cats covers heavy and mentally draining topics, though I will not go into detail so as not to spoil the book.

I found it well written, powerful and eye opening and worth a read if you enjoy this style of book!
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Thank you to the publisher @quercusbooks and the author for providing me with this ARC

This is a peculiar collection of short stories, all revolving around a pet shop hiring out cats.
We get short but interesting insights into different lives in Japan which makes this a very interesting read, especially because the way each story is told is vastly different, from being written in first person, some in third person, some from the human’s perspective, some from the cat’s perspective. It made it very interesting and kept the suspense up.
The cover does definitely deceive from the heaviness of the topics within the book.

This is several stories linked by a Pet shop that hires Blanket Cats out for three days at a time.
Each of the cats are well trained and as long as they have their blanket, they remain calm. They also appear to have a mystic quality in that the person who hires them has a realisation of something in their life due to the cat.
A sweet book.

Thank you #Netgally for providing me with a review copy of #TheBlanketCats by #KiyoshiShigematsu!

4.25/5*

Long Story Short: Do you want a quick but meaningful read? Rent a cat!

Kiyoshi Shigematsu's book consists of 7 short stories, each focusing on diverse characters at distinct points in life. Uniting them is a pet shop where you can rent a cat for 3 days. These specially trained animals are used to move around and deal with different people, but their temporary owners must never remove the blanket that accompanies them.

Such is the premise that follows these cats from different breeds and origins into the homes - and cars - of a plethora of characters with various motivations. From families struggling to come to terms with imminent loss, financial issues, parenting, and infertility, to those coming to terms with their own mortality - there is a little bit of everything here.

The short format suits each tale remarkably well. As readers, we are pulled into the characters' minds and empathise with them while piecing together the events that led them to rent a cat. I loved how each story is told from a different point of view - even the cats have a saying!
This beautiful book is perfectly tailored for Nekoha* and for those who enjoy meaningful stories!

Functioning more as a book of short stories than as a novel, The Blanket Cats follows seven families who each rent a ‘blanket cat’ for a three day period. For each one, their lives are changed, or put into a new perspective, from the time spent with their cat.

On the whole I really enjoyed each story. The cats served almost as a writing prompt, and I liked seeing the different directions each story took. They vary in style as well as in plot, with some being in first person, some in third person, some from the human’s perspective, some from the cat’s perspective. The stories were often moving with many emotional moments.

There were a couple that I didn’t enjoy so much though, especially one that dealt with some very heavy and serious topics that I don’t think were handled particularly well. I felt like I was supposed to sympathise with a character who I felt had done some really terrible things, which undercut the book as a whole for me.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

A collection of short stories in which troubled humans rent a cat for 3 days and the renting of the cat may (or may not) be the ‘cat’-alyst for them facing up to them/starting to fix them. Unlike other books in this genre, this isn’t a cosy read but focuses on the much darker side of humanity where people are ok stealing money or bullying others to the point of suicide. I’m not sure I really liked or even empathised with any of the characters. Not really for me. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Don't let the cute cover (or cat who is now charging modelling fees) and idea of renting a cat to help comfort you at times of need fool you, this is not really the cosy story one would expect from the translated fiction genre so popular of late.

Instead, the book is a series of standalone stories about the people who hire the cats. (A quick Google confirms this is something that you can do in Japan, but of course you can!)

Whilst we find out some detail about the different breeds and personalities of all the cats on offer at The Blanket Cat pet shop, and one of the stories is told from a cat's perspective, the main focus is the people and the problems they are facing. Some are lighter in tone, such as the 25 year old who wants to move in with his girlfriend, but he needs to grow up, get a "proper" jo, and take some responsibility. Others are quite dark, like the family who are forced to sell their home because the father was laid off and they can no longer afford to live there.

It's emotionally charged, the experiences they are having are very real and can happen to anyone. There is loss, illness, old age, bullying, love and genuine sadness and all are told so beautifully, without apopolgy. I found it quite raw and some of the stories really got to me.

In summary, darker than expected but still a captivating read. I'd definitely want to read more by this author.

Thanks to Quercus for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As a dedicated feline enthusiast, I found the concept of ‘The Blanket Cats’ to be utterly charming. Its rich emotional depth and thought-provoking themes make it an ideal selection for book clubs, as it has the power to spark engaging discussions and conversations.

Despite my lack of familiarity with this author’s previous works, I am filled with excitement and anticipation for their future releases. With a diverse cast of characters and a collection of short stories, this book captivates and entertains from start to finish, filling each page with vivid imagery and a mix of heartwarming and heartbreaking moments that left me wanting more.

This is a highly recommended read for those who enjoy this genre.

Step into a world of Rent-a-Cat. Don't expect to like any of the characters. These short stories are mainly about selfish humans who don't deserve to have a cat; they don't understand the psyche of cats. They are critical of the cats but don't have the ability to be critical of themselves.

Delve deeper and you realise that the cats are reflections of the characters. The cats act as a 'cat'alyst for the stories.

Be warned, this is not a comfort read; instead it is irksome and at times, infuriating.

1.5
Friends, this cover is designed to appeal to cat enthusiasts, but if you’re looking for whimsy, healing, or uplifting, you will not find it here. This is a short story anthology about super annoying, whining, and sometimes cruel humans. The cats aren’t the focal point and the whole book has a strong depressing undercurrent. I was kind of appalled by this, to be honest.

The “blanket” part of blanket cats is never really explained. They have little blankets that stay with them on assignments for similar reasons that puppies have blankies that smell of their litter with them when they go to their forever homes but it feels more like a gimmick than anything of consequence in the book. Why call them blanket cats unless the blanket part is somehow important?

Characters are all objectively awful. Barring the two MCs in The Cat No-One Liked, they’re all mean or cruel to the cats and unfit to be pet guardians in any capacity which makes for upsetting reading. There’s very little growth or development in the human characters which compounded my frustration.

The stories are boring: people whining about mostly self-inflicted problems largely revolving around jobs or relationships. The writing is mechanical and lacks heart. The sense of place was largely MIA.

I really noticed Britishified language in this book: car park, “pop” out, letterbox, peckish, [what do you/I] reckon, cheeky, satnav, banknotes, motorway, number plate, housing estate, letting (for rental), rubbish (trash, garbage), “Oi.”, lad, “trying it on” (a sexual harassment), crisps (potato chips), junction, “doing a runner”, and schlep (which may not be British but felt strange in the context of this book). I struggle with all of this in translations because I like to immerse myself in the culture and place of the story, not be wrenched to England periodically through jarring Britishisms.

So yeah, I really didn’t like this. Japanese cat healing cat fiction has captured the hearts of many English-speaking readers but that doesn’t mean that all are equal. I’d strongly recommend passing on this one, especially if you love cats or are looking for healing fiction.

I was privileged to have my request to read this book accepted through NetGalley. Thank you, Quercus Books.

What a lovely cozy read!
The Blanket Cats is a short story collection in which all characters have something in common: the hire a "Blanket Cat", highly intelligent felines trained to spend 3 days and two nights with different humans, on condition that they always have their favourite blanket to speed on.
Longing, grief, and connection are among some of the topics dealt with in the book, so probably best suited for adults.
I have already recommended it and will keep an eye on Mr Shigematsu's next publications!

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for the ARC

This was a really heartwarming tale. I love how cats were integrated and showed how much feline companions can help struggling people. We got to see various people tackling their problems and how cats could be a support for them. It's a slower book but very character (and cat) driven. An enjoyable read which I highly recommend.

Blanket Cats was a sweet story idea that is sure to please fans of contemporary, cosy Japanese fiction with feline protagonists. The book is divided into a series of short stories, each focusing on a different cat and temporary owner. Some of these tales appealed to me more than others, but overall it was a cute and thoughtful, easy-going read, and if you liked other books of this ilk, you are sure to find something to enjoy in these pages too. Definitely one to appeal to cat-loving readers around the world. I am giving it four stars.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

There is definitely a market for this type of stories involving cats and healing processes. However, lately is all the Japanese literatire I see around and is geting a bit tiring. This one in particular didn't have the magical magnet for me. Very similar to other books out there.

Blanket cats are rented out to people for three days, for whatever reason. Each cat comes with its own blanket and that is ground zero for them. We follow the tale of the blanket cats as they go to stay with different families. I did enjoy this because cats but also how people perceived cats and why they wanted to borrow a cat. On the other hand I felt sorry for the cats because who wants to be rented out three days at a time. The renter I enjoyed reading about was the ‘newly retired’ lady who wanted to go away for a while but with a cat. The saddest was the school bully who had a bully for a dad but the one I despised was the brat kid who deliberately hid the blanket. Read for yourself and find out!

Once again, a book where cats (this time armed with a blanket) can make the world a better place, starting with the adults (or teenagers) who host them. Now I understand that if they translate them, it is because there is a market, but to reduce Japanese literature to hot soup for the soul seems truly insulting to me.

Ancora una volta, un libro dove i gatti (stavolta muniti di una coperta) possono rendere il mondo un posto migliore, a cominciare dagli adulti (o adolescenti) che li ospitano. Ora io capisco che se li traducono é perché c'é mercato, ma ridurre la letteratura giapponese a un brodino caldo per l'anima mi sembra veramente un insulto.

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

This is a book, translated from the Japanese, that I wasn't quite expecting. The title made me think that it was going to be all about cats, but it is more about people. The idea is that people can rent a cat for three days -it comes with a set of instructions and the cat's own blanket. The stories within in the book are about different people renting a cat for a variety of reasons. The couple struggling with infertility, a woman who as stolen money, a boy wanting to make his father proud, a family preparing to put grandmother in a home and others. In one we even have the perspective of the cat. The cat is not the main character in these stories and the problems are not ones that a cat can solve, but sometimes a cat can give a change of directions, a change of focus and sometimes can bring clarity. The problems may still be there after the cat has been returned, but maybe sometimes the heart is a little lighter. Not every story was cosy, but it was certainly an easy read.

This is a short story collection about people who borrowed a rental cat for three days. From the cover, I got the cosy vibes, and it is a cosy read overall with most stories ar heartwarming and ends with slightly more positive changes in the characters.

There are some stories that are a bit heavy to call it a cosy read though. They are thought-provoking but not for bedtime. A couple stories stand out as uplifting and they are my favourite.

All in all, I enjoyed the book! 3.5 🌟