We’ll Prescribe You a Cat and We’ll Prescribe You Another Cat are both collections of short stories that all involve cats and a mysterious mental health clinic. The clinic is called the Nakagyo Kokoro Clinic for the Soul. It is notoriously difficult to find, having no specific address other than North of this Street, West of that street, etc. Only patients who really need the clinic’s services can find the clinic building, at the end of a very narrow alley, and then climb to the 5th floor, where the door to the clinic itself will usually open but not always.
Other tenants in the building think the clinic suite is empty and might even be haunted. At one point, yeas ago, an illicit cat breeder had occupied the office suite and when this was finally discovered, the owners had already been absent for days. So many of the remaining cats were either dead or dying.
But don’t let me give you the impression that these stories are sad. While there are some that are bittersweet, most are positive stories of healing.
Every patient is prescribed a cat, one with a specific personality, to help with challenges the patients are dealing with in their lives. Some are dealing with the complexities of middle school cliques, and in one a middle-aged man is trying to stay relevant in his work and at his home. In another, a recently widowed grandfather is dealing with his own sense of isolation after the death of his wife and trying to deal with his grandson who barely leaves his room.
The second book continues the stories of patients finding help with their mental health issues via this unusual clinic, and some characters appear in both books. In addition, the doctor and his receptionist have a most unusual relationship.
The stories are easy to read and confirm the mysterious bond between cats and their owners. I would say that dog lovers might enjoy the stories also, but I think we all know that cats and dogs have totally different personalities. These are good stories for any animal lover though.
