Cats and anime are a combination that works far too well. Whether they are knocking things over, staring at absolutely nothing, demanding food or somehow becoming more responsible than the humans around them, anime cats often feel suspiciously accurate.
As someone with cats, there are certain moments in these anime that made me wonder whether the creators had secretly been watching my own cats. Others are simply adorable, while at least one left me crying over a cat and questioning why I had done this to myself.
If you love cats, these six cat anime deserve a spot on your watchlist.
My Roommate is a Cat
- Episodes: 12
- Stream it on: Crunchyroll, BiliBili, iQIYI
Subaru Mikazuki is a socially awkward mystery novelist who prefers books and solitude to dealing with other people. After an unexpected encounter with a stray cat, he brings her home and names her Haru. The anime follows their new life together, often showing the same events from both Subaru’s and Haru’s perspectives. While Subaru tries to understand this strange creature now living in his house, Haru has her own ideas about her new human and what it means to keep him alive.
Why it’s worth the watch: The different perspectives make this one especially fun. Seeing Subaru completely misunderstand Haru’s behaviour before getting her side of the story is both funny and surprisingly sweet. It is also a lovely story about two lonely souls slowly becoming a family.
She and Her Cat: Everything Flows
- Episodes: 4
- Stream it on: Crunchyroll
A young woman struggles with the uncertainty and loneliness of adulthood while her ageing black cat, Daru, watches her life unfold from his own perspective. Told largely through Daru’s thoughts, the anime quietly explores their years together and the comfort they find in simply sharing the same home. It is a very short series, but it packs a lot into its brief episodes.
Why it’s worth the watch: This made me cry. If you have ever loved a cat and watched them grow older, prepare yourself before pressing play. Daru’s perspective gives the story an emotional weight that hit me much harder than I expected.
The Masterful Cat is Depressed Again Today
- Episodes: 13
- Stream it on: Crunchyroll, iQIYI, Netflix
Saku Fukuzawa may look like a capable office worker, but her home life would probably collapse completely without Yukichi. Luckily, Yukichi is no ordinary cat. He is enormous, walks on two legs, cooks, cleans, shops for groceries and generally runs the household while quietly judging his hopeless human. Saku goes to work, Yukichi keeps their lives functioning and somehow this bizarre arrangement feels completely normal.
Why it’s worth the watch: I wish my cats would do the housework. Instead, they create more housework. Yukichi is basically the dream cat for anyone who has ever cleaned a litter tray while their cat sits nearby and watches.
Nights with a Cat
When Fuuta’s younger sister moves in with him, her round grey cat Kyuruga comes along too. Fuuta has little experience living with a cat and quickly discovers that cats operate according to rules humans were never meant to understand. Each short episode focuses on a small piece of everyday cat behaviour, from strange sleeping positions and sudden bursts of energy to the mysterious way cats appear the second food becomes involved.
Why it’s worth the watch: As a cat owner, this is all too relatable. There are so many moments where I found myself thinking, “Yes, my cats do that too.” Kyuruga feels less like an anime cat and more like someone secretly animated actual cat behaviour.
With a Dog AND a Cat, Every Day is Fun
- Episodes: 24
- Stream it on: Crunchyroll, Bilibili
Living with both a dog and a cat means experiencing two completely different approaches to life. The dog is endlessly enthusiastic, affectionate and ready to find joy in almost anything. The cat, meanwhile, is far more difficult to impress and often responds to the world with the kind of cold judgement only a cat can deliver. Through very short episodes, their owner shares the everyday chaos of living with both.
Why it’s worth the watch: The contrast between the dog and cat is what makes this so funny. The dog is pure happiness while the cat often behaves like it has been personally inconvenienced by everyone’s existence. If you have ever lived with different types of pets, you will probably recognise the personality clash immediately.
Chi’s Sweet Adventure
- Episodes: 51
- Stream it on: Crunchyroll
Chi is a tiny kitten who becomes separated from her mother and is taken in by the Yamada family. From there, she begins exploring her new home and the world around her with all the curiosity, confusion and determination of a young cat. Whether she is meeting other animals, discovering something new or getting herself into trouble, almost everything is an adventure when you are as small as Chi.
Why it’s worth the watch: Way too adorable. Chi’s little expressions, movements and kitten logic make this dangerously easy to binge. If you have ever raised a kitten, some of her behaviour will feel very familiar.
From emotional stories about the bond between cats and their humans to short episodes that capture the absolute weirdness of everyday cat behaviour, there is a cat anime for almost every mood.
Personally, I still want Yukichi to come and teach my cats how to clean the house. I do not think it is going to happen, but I can dream.
Which is your favourite cat anime?
Are there any other cat-focused anime you think every cat lover needs to watch?
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