We'll Prescribe You a Cat
A USA Today Bestseller
A cat a day keeps the doctor away…
Discover the award-winning, bestselling Japanese novel that has become an international sensation in this utterly charming, vibrant celebration of the healing power of cats.
Tucked away in an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul can only be found by people who are struggling in their lives and genuinely need help. The mysterious clinic offers a unique treatment to those who find their way there: it prescribes cats as medication. Patients are often puzzled by this unconventional prescription, but when they “take” their cat for the recommended duration, they witness profound transformations in their lives, guided by the playful, empathetic, occasionally challenging yet endearing cats.
Throughout the pages, the power of the human-animal bond is revealed as a disheartened businessman finds unexpected joy in physical labor, a young girl navigates the complexities of elementary school cliques, a middle-aged man struggles to stay relevant at work and home, a hardened bag designer seeks emotional balance, and a geisha finds herself unable to move on from the memory of her lost cat. As the clinic’s patients navigate their inner turmoil and seek resolution, their feline companions lead them toward healing, self-discovery, and newfound hope.
A cat a day keeps the doctor away…
Discover the award-winning, bestselling Japanese novel that has become an international sensation in this utterly charming, vibrant celebration of the healing power of cats.
Tucked away in an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul can only be found by people who are struggling in their lives and genuinely need help. The mysterious clinic offers a unique treatment to those who find their way there: it prescribes cats as medication. Patients are often puzzled by this unconventional prescription, but when they “take” their cat for the recommended duration, they witness profound transformations in their lives, guided by the playful, empathetic, occasionally challenging yet endearing cats.
Throughout the pages, the power of the human-animal bond is revealed as a disheartened businessman finds unexpected joy in physical labor, a young girl navigates the complexities of elementary school cliques, a middle-aged man struggles to stay relevant at work and home, a hardened bag designer seeks emotional balance, and a geisha finds herself unable to move on from the memory of her lost cat. As the clinic’s patients navigate their inner turmoil and seek resolution, their feline companions lead them toward healing, self-discovery, and newfound hope.
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Community Reviews
Chris's recommendation.
A fantastical tale about a mysterious clinic and their unorthodox treatments.
Our club members had mixed feelings. Some of us liked the apparent simplicity, others wondered “what am I missing?” It’s hard to know what may have been lost in translation. One club member who listened to the audio book thought the Japanese voices added to the book. Certainly it feels like there was some Harry Potter influence- the room of necessity, platform 93/4, Diagon Alley. It may be the case that an understanding of Shintoism adds another layer. For me personally, I enjoyed the premise, think I got a grip on the 2 survivors, and always enjoy stories that highlight the benefit animals bring to our lives. I happily prescribe “we’ll prescribe you a cat”!
Such a fun read! Originally published in Japanese it was such a runaway best seller that it has been translated into 17 languages! It is simply a delight to read. This seems at first like it might be 5 short stories but actually it is one charming story. Try to take it slowly although you may be tempted to speed read through it. It isn't really about cats but rather about people and how those in the story are affected by the cats that come into their lives. It will make you smile but be careful: it just might make you want to go get or at least foster a cat yourself!
Another quick slice-of-life novella with a dash of *magical realism* using cats as the cure-all for people's everyday anxieties and heartaches. I enjoyed how the vet/psychiatrist/therapist and the nurse/receptionist appeared throughout the book as other people (or maybe they were disguising as other people but it's never confirmed). It's even more strange when you discover that the clinic only appears when the person seeking it is ready to get the help they need. But the help is a cat--learning how to care for the animal and seeing how they help humans become more understanding and patient and caring.
An absolutely adorable read on how healing a pet can be. Separated into 5 chapters of the stories of 5 patients seeking help, the reader follows as the patients are blindly prescribed a cat. From the struggles of sharing a space, living with another personality, and pure joy, the reader's heart melts with how a pet can invade your heart. An endearing read for all.
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