Fairy Cat Vol. 1

手のひらねこ [Tenohira Neko] #1

by Hisa Takano, Alethea Nibley (Translator), Athena Nibley (Translator)

A sweet and fantastical story about the world's tiniest cat and the boy it choses to live with.

A minuscule cat appears one rainy day, perched on Kanade's chair. But the moment he spots the tiny ball of fluff, it vanishes! Kanade knows fairy cats are a rare sight to behold, hiding out of reach in nooks and crannies--but now that he's seen one, he is determined to win its affection. Can Kanade coax the fairy cat out of hiding and befriend it?

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Cats, Graphic Novels, Slice Of Life, Comics, Animals

160 pages, Paperback

First published September 8, 2023

Reviews

[Katie❄️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gah SSOO CUTE!! How could I not cross my fingers and hope a library would purchase this!

This was just too cute! 10 stars! Cat lovers paradise.

WHY ARE PALM-SIZED FAIRY CATS NOT REAL!!!

[Bibliothecat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for complete series

Palm-sized cats are fairies. They are not pets. They sometimes come to stay in your house - if they feel like it. If you tell someone you've seen one, they will disappear. But otherwise, they are very much like other cats.

This could not have been any cuter. It's very light on text and told in an episodic manner. On a fareful rainy day, Kanade finds a little cat has found its way into his room. Despite naming her Fluffy, she's not his pet and he knows it; he lets her roam his room and just observes all her cat antics. Every chapter will show a new little aspect of Fluffy in Kanade's room and despite her size, cat lovers will relate. Honestly, I cannot stress how wholesome and cute this series is.

There is an overarching plot around Kanade and there are hints of struggles; it seems he used to play piano as a child and has fallen out of love with it. Through Fluffy, and to an extent his younger brother, he reconnects with his interest. That being said, I would argue this isn't the focus of this series as the exact circumstances are left in quite a murky light. It does add to the lightness of the story as it's just another wholesome element.

Gorgeous manga and absolutely perfect for cat fans - I think this is a rare manga that can also very easily be recommended to non manga readers, provided they are cat fans.

[kristyn ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the cutest shit i've ever seen in my life and i mean that with my whole chest

[Jiro Dreams of Suchy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a total sucker for small and cute and my god is the palm sized cat the best- I’m not even a cat person but this cat is just so cute and a bit of a pest because it knows how cute it is. This manga is so joyful, I can hear this upbeat music in every scene, it has this magic about it- without any darkness.

Just look at the cat!!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely adorable while also getting cat behavior perfectly. If you're having a bad day, this is the cure.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cat is small and cute, and as the story progresses the cat continues to be small and cute. It's a quick, cozy read, with hints that the cat may be serving some bigger purpose, but she's mostly just being a cat, and for me that's enough.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stupidly cute. The art in this is everything. Very simple and slightly repetitive since the chapters were super short and it refers to the fairy cats as "palm sized cats" every time it talks about them, but that's a minor quibble. Reminds me of watching episodic anime where the narrator repeats some basic info each time and I think this would work really well in that format too. Recommended for cat lovers looking for some low key cuteness.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A teeny cat the size of your palm appears to have chosen Kanade to be its companion. That’s pretty much the whole plot. The drawings are adorable—Fluffy reminds me of a cat my sister used to have, only much smaller of course.

Though geared towards young adults, this simple and sweet story appears to be appropriate for younger readers as well.

[Danie Ware · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE CUTE. IT HURTS.

Aside from that, tho, a wonderfully flowing narrative about the semi-mythical palm-sized cat and the boy is chooses to live with. Any cat person will see their funny, fiery friends reflected, and who doesn't want a kitty that can sleep in a pencil case?

[Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was near-painfully adorable. Just a light, fluffy, and cozy slice of life about a boy and the palm-sized cat he befriends.

[vicinthemeadow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've become a cat manga person. I don't know how I got here but I am happy to be here!😌

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable, cozy slice of life style manga with the cutest, smallest fairy cats. I love the way this little cat is drawn, the expressions are some I recognize in my own (non fairy) cat. Eagerly awaiting more of this super cute manga

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

If your looking for an easy cute Manga read this is for you. I finished it in like 30 minutes and love it.

[marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable. I needed something cute and this hits the spot! The chapters are so short that you can easily finish the volume in an hour, but I dipped into this from time to time so I can have something to look forward to. Earlier chapters can feel repetitive as the mangaka keeps repeating "facts" about palm-sized cats. I find the narration more charming and effective when kept to a minimum. The series is mostly plotless though it does hints at some sort of arc with Kanade and I'm interested to see how it'll play out.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A series about two of my favorite things—faeries and cats???? Sign me up! Take all my money.

I LOVE this SO much!

This is such a charming story.

The whole idea of fairy cats is both whimsical and wholesome. I appreciate how this story blends cat behavior with fairy lore—the two pair together rather well. I mean, cats are well known for their mercurial nature. It actually makes a lot of sense that fey may be a type of feline and vice-versa.

Also, it’s just adorable on every level.

This is the kind of reimagining of faerie lore that I actually want to read. (Romantasy step aside.)

Anyway.

Highly recommend for all readers in need of a bit more whimsy and who love cats. This will enchant you in every way~

[Autumn Lanning · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cutest damn manga I’ve ever read. I need more adventures of Fluffy and Kanada.

[Bell (wicked era 💚🫧) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like 1 (one) smol fairy cat

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is so cute!!

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

too f*ing cute.

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t realistically give this 5 stars but it’s definitely like 4.25 - it was so adorable and the perfect comfort read🪻

[Kassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg it's so cute!!

[Pascale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not much of a story, but very sweet to the soul!

[Vanna Book-Mage · Rating 4 out of 5]

And now I would also like a fairy cat.

[Jazmin Salcido · Rating 4 out of 5]

First ever manga, of course had to be about cats! So far, it’s super cute and will wait to see how this goes.

[sashenka 🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

that's so cuuuuuuuuuute

[Becky B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Palm-sized fairy cats are mythical creatures rarely spotted. It is an honor to see one, and an even bigger honor when one decides to make your room its home for a time. Kanade is pleasantly shocked when just such a creature decides to make his room its home for a bit.

This is absolutely adorable. I want a fairy cat! It’s mostly just about a tween/teen kid in awe that a fairy cat has made shown itself to him. There’s a tiny bit about Kanade’s family life with his parents and little brother, but the fairy cat and wondering each time he leaves if it will be there later is the main focus. I have book 2 and have heard this is just a 2 book series, but that seems fitting since we’re warned from the beginning that fairy cats don’t stay around very long. Eager to dive into book 2.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: None
Ethnic diversity: Japanese humans
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: A little bit about perfectionist tendencies ruining the joy of certain activities like playing the piano.

[Luce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute! I would love to see a tiny cat. I liked the implication that they turn up in times of strife, and the undertones of Kanade struggling to decide what to do with his life.

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is both a story about supernatural phenomena AND a slice-of-life story, since it's about an otherwise completely normal life with a... palm-sized cat. Not the real world equivalent, which would just be a newborn kitten, but a VERY small but otherwise full-grown cat (though the narrative reiterates that they are fairies... that have a VERY strong resemblance to cats).

So this ends up being another "cute cats are cute" story, but on a smaller scale (haha). The main problem with it is, as it's slice-of-life, there really isn't much plot progression beyond "Does this palm-sized cat* want to stick around or not?" Like many stories about stray cats, the cat(s) in question will ultimately opt to hang around the humans, because that's how plot progression happens. (Some don't! Much less often, though.)

Recommended if you like slow paced, otherwise "normal" stories but with maybe one magical element to them. And, of course, cats!

*The narrative and characters regularly call "Fluffy" a palm-sized cat, despite the book's title.

[RSC_Collecting · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok this might actually be the cutest thing ever. As the title suggests, this book is about a fairy cat. A fairy cat is a palm-sized cat that shows up at a human's house. It shows up randomly and only stays if it likes it there. Only choosing to show itself to one person. If you tell someone about the fairy cat, it will disappear. As it warms up to you and trusts you, it will let you hold it, pet it, and even sleep with you. This was adorable. Just about every panel had this cute little fluffball in it! So many cute faces and emotions. This tiny cat has a hilarious personality. There's not really a real story or anything. It's just an easy story about this cat and the person she chose to be with. Little fun facts about fairy cats. The two interacting with each other. And just being so damn precious. Definitely worth grabbing if you find it!

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Th back of the book says ages 10+ but honestly, I think this is a book for all ages. The art really is just adorable, and the story is solid "enough". If you love cats, you will definitely be all in on this series. I believe Hisa Takano does a great job in making the book a quick read, but one were you stop on the pages to really just enjoy the cute little cat. I wish I could give this one an extra half star, because I feel 4 is a bit much, but 3 stars feels a little low. Still...this will be enjoyable to cat owners for sure and light manga readers of all ages.