I last read this series two months ago! My library doesn’t have any more of them past volume 3, so I had to request an interlibrary loan.
In volume 4, there’s a new addition to Riko’s family. She gets a second cat! And not just any cat, but a very cute little calico with short legs, a munchkin. She does her best to introduce the cats gradually, following provided instructions. The new kitty, eventually named Soboro (but I liked her original name, Tama, better) is eager, curious and playful. The resident tuxedo Musubi is more reserved. But soon enough they go from chasing in conflict to chasing for fun, boxing with each other, vying for the most comfortable spots, seeing who can climb highest on the cat tower and so on. Riko finds her new kitty so endearing, but (as always) refers to almost everything in gamer terms, so she compares her two cats’ abilities and “powers” and for some reason she kept saying that Soboro was “broken.” I didn’t get that. Because of her short legs? She couldn’t jump as high as Musubi, but in every other way was just as able a feline. Not only do the two cats have to get used to each other, but Riko has to find new levels of patience with their antics, as they often interrupt her gaming time with their spirited play. A lot of this story is very quiet, just showing what the cats do when they’re home alone. They constantly move to find the coolest sleeping spot- it must be very hot where they live because where I am, my cats do the opposite, and follow the squares of sunshine around the room! They groom each other, and play-fight, and eye each other’s food bowls at mealtimes. Funny, I give my cats Churu treats too (but only as special reward, when they get their claws trimmed). Some pages show the cats’ perspective on things, a bit baffled at what their human does, which is also amusing. And cute. Did I mention how cute this series is? It just makes me feel calm and happy reading it.
Borrowed from the public library.
