The best cat-themed graphic novels and manga

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a cartoonist who often features cat characters in my books, including Cool Japan Guide, Cool Tokyo Guide, Dolltopia, and Kitty Sweet Tooth. As a life-long cat-lover, I enjoy drawing and writing about my beloved feline friends. I’m also an avid reader of manga and frequent visitor to Japan, where I studied in my college days, so I particularly love reading manga featuring cats and collecting Maneki Neko lucky cat figures as well. I hope you enjoy these books and consider adopting a cat!


I wrote...

Kitty Sweet Tooth

By Abby Denson, Utomaru (illustrator),

Book cover of Kitty Sweet Tooth

What is my book about?

In this adorable and silly graphic novel written for young readers, Kitty Sweet Tooth runs a movie theater that serves up magical (and unpredictable) desserts. Featuring delicious text from author Abby Denson, and bright, colorful illustrations by Utomaru.

There’s just one thing Kitty Sweet Tooth loves more than going to movies, and that’s eating delicious desserts. Now that Pop-Pop’s movie theater has fallen on hard times, Kitty decides that only dessert can keep it from closing its doors. With a coat of paint, a tasty new menu, and a lot of hard work, Kitty and her friends transform this ramshackle theater into the Taste-O-Rama, a combination movie house restaurant.

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of What's Michael?: Fatcat Collection Volume 1

Abby Denson Why did I love this book?

This is a fantastic collection featuring humorous stories all centering around an orange cat named Michael and his interactions with different humans and animals. The humor is absurd and zany, and lampoons the behavior of cats and humans alike! I’m really happy to see that these Fatcat Collections are being released. All ages can enjoy this one, as the humor works for adult and child audiences.

By Makoto Kobayashi, Toren Smith (translator), Dana Lewis (translator)

Why should I read it?

1 author picked What's Michael? as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

True-to-life daily cat scenarios and off-the-walls crazy feline fantasies combine in this epic manga collection. Makoto Kobayashi's hilarious New York Library Award and Parents' Choice Award Winning Series returns in a set of oversized collections.

What's Michael? FatCat Collection Volume 1 contains the out-of-print original What's Michael? Volumes 1 to 6. Over 500 pages of tumultuous fun, including the out-of-print volumes Michael's Album, Living Together, Off the Deep End, A Hard Day's Life, Michael's Favorite Spot, and Michael's Mambo.


Book cover of A Man and His Cat

Abby Denson Why did I love this book?

This heart-melting story of an unusual-looking cat and the widower who adopts him will bring happy tears to the eyes of any animal-lover. Fukumaru is a cat who isn’t conventionally cute, and worries he’ll never be adopted. When an older gentleman takes him home, they begin a new life together, introducing love and laughter into their days. An uplifting story, but make sure to have tissues handy when reading this!

By Umi Sakurai,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked A Man and His Cat as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The top manga launch in Japan in the first half of 2018, A Man and His Cat was also voted one of the top ten manga of 2018 by Japanese bookstore employees nationwide. Having won hearts and topped charts in Japan, this hotly anticipated series about an older gentleman and his unique, adorable cat is available in English for the first time!

In the pet shop he calls home, a chubby, homely cat whiles away the hours listening to coos of delight from potential pet parents...but he knows it's not him they're fussing over. Even as his price drops with…


Book cover of Science Comics: Cats: Nature and Nurture

Abby Denson Why did I love this book?

This non-fiction graphic novel is full of interesting information all about cats! Adults and children will learn a lot about our feline friends (I know I did!). Packed with scientific and historical facts, this is a great read for a child who loves cats. The entire Science Comics series is a wonderful resource that I recommend for those looking for educational children’s books.

By Andy Hirsch,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Science Comics as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 9, 10, 11, and 12.

What is this book about?

Every volume of Science Comics offers a complete introduction to a particular topic - dinosaurs, coral reefs, the solar system, volcanoes, bats, flying machines, and more. These gorgeously illustrated graphic novels offer wildly entertaining views of their subjects. Whether you're a fourth grader doing a natural science unit at school or a thirty-year-old with a secret passion for airplanes, these books are for you!

In this volume, we meet feline friends from the tiniest kodkod to the biggest tiger and find out what makes your neighbourhood domestic cats so special. Equipped with teeth, claws, and camouflage to survive everywhere from…


Book cover of Yon & Mu

Abby Denson Why did I love this book?

Famed horror manga author Junji Ito brings us this delightful collection of autobiographical stories about interactions with his family cats. Those familiar with his chilling and grotesque horror stories will be amused at the unnerving style in which he draws himself, his wife, and cats. Ultimately, it ends up being sweet and heartwarming, even if the art is not exactly cute. This is a favorite of mine!

By Junji Ito,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Yon & Mu as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Horror comics author Junji Ito has recently purchased a new house and has decided to invite his girlfriend to move in with him. However, when she moves in, she comes with two cats, Yon, a strange-looking white cat with a ghastly fur pattern on its back that resembles a skull, and Mu, Yon's cute counterpart and playmate. This manga is a diary of the author's life as he tries and often fails to connect with his two feline friends. The manga is drawn in Junji Ito's horror comic style featuring intricate and finely drawn images.


Book cover of The Complete Chi's Sweet Home, 1

Abby Denson Why did I love this book?

As cute as it gets! This story of a kitten and her adoption into a family and interactions with children and other animals will make any cat-lover smile. Chi is always getting into trouble, as kittens do, and her adventures are sure to lighten the mood of any reader.

By Konami Kanata,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Complete Chi's Sweet Home, 1 as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Chi is a mischievous newborn kitten who, while on a leisurely stroll with her family, finds herself lost. Separated from the warmth and protection of her mother, feels distraught. Overcome with loneliness she breaks into tears in a large urban park meadow, when she is suddenly rescued by a young boy named Yohei and his mother. The kitty is then quickly and quietly whisked away into the warm and inviting Yamada family apartment...where pets are strictly not permitted.

The Complete Chi's Sweet Home collects Chi's Sweet Home vol 1-3 and includes never before translated comics from Konami Kanata in a…


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Shadow of the Hidden

By Kev Harrison,

Book cover of Shadow of the Hidden

Kev Harrison Author Of Below

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Storyteller Traveller Horror addict Reader

Kev's 3 favorite reads in 2023

What is my book about?

It’s Seb’s last day working in Turkey, but his friend Oz has been cursed. Superstition turns to terror as the effects of the ancient malediction spill over, and the lives of Oz and his family hang in the balance. Can Seb find the answers to remove the hex before it’s too late?

Journey with Seb, Oz, and Deniz across ancient North African cities as they seek to banish the Shadow of the Hidden.

Shadow of the Hidden

By Kev Harrison,

What is this book about?

It’s Seb’s last day working in Turkey, but his friend Oz has been cursed. Superstition turns to terror as the effects of the ancient malediction spill over and the lives of Oz and his family hang in the balance. Can Seb find the answers to remove the hex before it’s too late?

From Kev Harrison, author of The Balance and Below, journey with Seb, Oz and Deniz across ancient North African cities as they seek to banish the Shadow of the Hidden.


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