by Robyn E.

As soon as I saw the cover, a captivatingly adorable kitty belly-up with goggles slung around his neck, I knew this manga was for me. Night of the Living Cat (also known as Nyaight of the Living Cat) combines the post-apocalyptic zombie pandemic genre with the fun ridiculousness of horror B-movies.  

It starts with a mysterious explosion at a cat food factory. Since then, the human population has been slowly declining, while the cat population has been increasing. A virus is discovered that is transmitted through physical contact with an infected cat. If an unfortunate human contracts this virus, there is one main symptom: they are fully transformed into a cat. Which means that if one should wish to survive as a human, their previous life as a friend to feline-kind is over. There can be no petting, no ear scritches, not even a little boop on the nose. A world where cats are both revered and feared – how paw-sitively dreadful! (My apologies, I could not help myself.) 

Kunagi is a man with a mysterious past and a tough determination to survive. He can’t remember who he is or anything about his past, but he possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of all facts pertaining to cats. Kaoru, who was previously the co-owner of a cat café, is quick-witted and resilient. She is the person who found Kunagi wandering the streets in his amnesiac state and took him in. They and a group of other survivors join together to defend themselves against the hordes of cats that have taken over the city. As cat lovers, they naturally take great pains to ensure that any cat whose path they cross does not get hurt, to comedic effect. Catnip or a toy mouse on a string might be used to lure or distract, but to use a water spray bottle to frighten them can instill over-the-top anguish in some of the more cat-sensitive characters. Some of the cats seem to have special powers, such as super intelligence and siren-like caterwauling that beckons surrounding cats to gather in clusters (clowders, even!). These talents are likely carried over from their previous human lives. 

The art style, courtesy of artist Mecha-Roots, is fantastic. The action sequences are artistically treated seriously, balanced with the levity of the cuddly creatures from which they are defending themselves. The realistic illustrations display the gamut of cat breeds in fluffy detail, from Norwegian Forest cat to Devon Rex. I love how newly transformed cats are often depicted with a distinguishing physical characteristic or clothing accessory from their previous human forms: cats with cool sunglasses, spiked collars, and little baseball caps.  

Sprinkled with (sometimes) plot-relevant cat facts and care tips, along with the occasional reference to horror/sci-fi movies and meme culture, Night of the Living Cat is perfect for the cat-lover who enjoys post-apocalyptic theming and wants something that’s just plain fun. Some might feel that there’s an over-reliance on one main joke (downfall by CUTE KITTIES), but it’s one I’m coming back for time and time again. 

The series is ongoing, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store. What’s the connection between the explosion at the cat food factory and the ensuing cat pandemic? Who was Kunagi really before that fateful day? And will humanity ever get to feel the warm purr of a cat ever again? A deserved anime adaptation is also reportedly coming out in 2025 at the time of this writing. 

HCLS owns Night of the Living Cat volume 1 and volume 2 in print, geared towards teens and adults. 

Robyn is a Customer Service Specialist at the East Columbia Branch. She enjoys various media that paint a surreal or dark atmosphere, animation, drawing, cats, and anything related to Finland, especially Moomin.