I Am a Cat: A new translation of the original Japanese cat classic

by Natsume Sōseki, Nick Bradley - translator

Brought to you by Penguin.

Discover the original Japanese Cat classic, now in a vibrant new translation by Nick Bradley, author of The Cat and the City.

'I am a Cat. But I still don't have a name...'

Once a stray kitten, I Am a Cat’s narrator finds himself adopted by a local scholar and thrown headfirst into the absurd upper middle-class world of Meiji-era Japan. Now a noble but somewhat world-weary observer, he has ample opportunity to dissect the strange ways and convoluted conversations of the human race.

First published at the turn of the 20th century, and regarded as one of Japan’s most iconic classics, I Am a Cat is a captivating exploration of identity, society, and the often bewildering nature of the human condition—all seen through the eyes of a very special, uncompromising cat.

‘A biting satire of Meiji-era Japan' Jessie Burton, Guardian

‘Soseki is the representative modern Japanese novelist, a figure of truly national stature’ Haruki Murakami

Natsume Soseki 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

Audible Audio

Published May 28, 2026

About the author

Natsume Sōseki (夏目 漱石), born Natsume Kinnosuke (夏目 金之助), was a Japanese novelist. He is best known for his novels Kokoro, Botchan, I Am a Cat and his unfinished work Light and Darkness. He was also a scholar of British literature and composer of haiku, kanshi, and fairy tales. From 1984 until 2004, his portrait appeared on the front of the Japanese 1000 yen note. In Japan, he is often considered the greatest writer in modern Japanese history. He has had a profound effect on almost all important Japanese writers since.

Reviews

[Mara Shaw]

A send-up of Japanese society at the end of the 19th century -- through the eyes of a brilliant, sharp-witted cat who lives with a scholar (who is the author of the book). The cat takes the piss out of the scholar (aka the author taking on himself) with such wit that it is almost timeless. Mostly, though, he takes on Japanese society at the end of the 19th centruy -- with such sharp claws that I laughed out loud.

It isn't fully informative to judge a book about a society that is not one's own -- also from a different century. There is so much context missing in any modern review. Writing (and conversation) was slower in 1900 and Japanese society was different. Conversations that we think drag a bit today would have been snappy then. So expectations need to be adapted. I recently read Machado de Assis' "Epitaph of a Small Winner" that was an equivalent send-up of Brazilian society at the same time period. Again, a bit belaboured because society and writing styles have both changed, but what a hoot to think about these two cultures side-by-side with human classes and airs and pomposity and brilliance and ignorance.

About the translation: This version (I have it in soft copy, not audiobook) was newly translated by Nick Bradley, a scholar of cats in Japanese literature, which is both adorable and scholarly. He's now on my "who to invite to dinner" list because I think he would be delightful. Bradley's translation is fresh and, thanks to his brilliant translation, the humour jumps off the page.

One delightful part of the book is that it was published serially by chapter, so by Chapter 3, people are writing the cat's owner asking for photos of the cat. {Note: this is only Book 1 of 3 of the set]

Before I share some quotes and insights that I want to remember, it is relevant to note the era the book was written in.

The Meiji era (明治時代, Meiji jidai[a]) was an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868, to July 30, 1912.[2] The Meiji era dominated the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization by Western imperial powers to the new paradigm of a modern, industrialized nation state and emergent great power, influenced by Western scientific, technological, philosophical, political, legal, and aesthetic ideas. As a result of such wholesale adoption of radically different ideas, the changes to Japan were profound, and affected its social structure, culture, internal politics, economy, military, and foreign relations. The period corresponded to the reign of Emperor Meiji.

So a LOT was changing in Japanese society, but scholars were still trying to outmaneuver each other with clever dialogue and witty stories (although the cat found them dull and unremarkable :)) The pettiness and the ineptitude of the scholar, the send-up of the medical profession and of neighbours snooping and dismissing each other -- the cat sees it all.

A few quotes (mainly because I found them humorous):

"I looked into the face of a human for what must've been the first time. Even now, that curious initial impression lingers -- the human is such a weird, unattractive animal. Firstly, the face (which, as we all know, is supposed to be adorned with hair) is as smooth and slippery as a kettle. Since then, I've met many a cat, but not a single one with such a deformity as facial baldness."

Incredibly backhanded insult of the author's work by a friend of his in the book: "{His} words flow like the clouds and rivers. {...} just when you think they've appeared, the instantly disappear, pass away for all eternity, and forget to return."
The mistress pulled an odd expression. "Is that supposed to be praise?" she asked bluntly.
"Oh yes, it's a form of praise," replied Meitei.

[Noah Gapinski]

Good book, Wish their was a part 2 for this print of the book.