We’ll Prescribe You a Cat – Syou Ishida
My cat-loving heart couldn’t resist the premise of “We’ll Prescribe You a Cat:” a hidden clinic in Kyoto quietly heals emotional wounds by assigning patients the perfect feline.
If only the book were as consistent as its charming concept and cover.
Syou Ishida opens strong with a story about a young, overworked broker whose life is upended after a mischievous tabby named Bee tears through his professional facade — literally and figuratively.
This first tale, which takes up nearly a third of the novel, walks a fine line between magical realism and personal-growth fable. The logic is wobbly, and the protagonist’s cluelessness wears thin, but there’s enough sweetness and strangeness to carry it through. Bee doesn’t just comfort, she creates chaos that forces change, making it the book’s most compelling take on healing.
Unfortunately, every story that follows rehashes that arc with less nuance and diminishing returns. Each patient receives a cat. Each resists. Each softens. But none of the later chapters quite hit the emotional chord of the opener.
The call center tale aims for commentary on generational disconnect but stumbles into murky "Me Too" territory. A schoolgirl’s story is overshadowed by her mother’s long-buried guilt over an abandoned kitten. A fashion designer learns to embrace imperfection. It’s all just... fine.
The final chapter finds Ishida’s footing again with a grieving geisha seeking closure after the loss of a beloved cat. The emotional resonance of that story — especially for readers who’ve dealt with pet loss — is one of the few moments that genuinely lands. But by then, the charm had mostly worn off.
One bright spot is the clinic’s surreal staff — Dr. Nikke and his nurse — who grow increasingly unhinged with each appearance. By the end, you’re convinced they might be cats in disguise, which was honestly more engaging than some of the humans they treat.
The audiobook doesn’t help matters. Narrators Naruto Komatsu and Natsumi Kuroda never settle on a tone, swinging between manic and somber. Some character voices are so exaggerated they pull you out of the story entirely.
Had this been a short story it might have worked. Instead, “We’ll Prescribe You a Cat” is an exercise in diminishing returns. Like petting a cat’s belly, I wanted a little bite with the fluff.
Rating (story): 2.5/5 stars
Rating (narration): 2/5 stars
Format: Audiobook (personal library)
Dates read: July 13 – July 15, 2025
Multi-tasking: Not recommended. The narration is so jarringly inconsistent, it definitely detracts from the story. If you really want to experience this, go with a physical copy.
