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La vie du jeune Nao bascule après un terrible accident de la route : quand il reprend ses esprits, il se retrouve piégé dans le corps... d'un chat ! Pensant d'abord que ce n'est qu'un mauvais rêve, il va tester tous son potentiel de félin jusqu'à se rendre compte que la rue n'est vraiment pas faite pour lui... Heureusement, il va croiser la route de la jolie et maladroite Chika, une lycéenne qui vit seule et décide d'adopter ce petit chat peu ordinaire. Inconsciente de la réelle identité de son compagnon, Chika va le rebaptiser Nyao et commencer une nouvelle vie avec lui
191 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 22, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
April 14, 2023
Poor teenager Nao is struck by the dreaded Truck-kun and sent to a far-off land… basically a block away, tops, except now he’s trapped in the body of a cat. Hopeless at the best of times, he gets adopted by the hapless Chika and it’s apocalypse Nao as the rechristened Nyao tries to figure out how to get his body back. After this nap.
When this story starts, it feels like it has exactly zero confidence in itself (the author notes imply this is not merely my imagination), despite being a rather decent set-up that eschews the more ecchi elements in favour of being generally cute and featuring lots of adorable cat behaviour.
It doesn’t help that the premise gets repeated every single chapter, which gets old incredibly fast. And neither Nyao nor Chika are especially well-defined protagonists. He’s a bit dim and she’s clumsy and flighty, but it’s just not enough to hang an entire series on. Cat antics or no.
Let me be perfectly clear: the cat antics (the manga keyword this time out) are great. The mangaka is stellar at aping cat behaviour and Nyao mostly acts like a cat, even when he’s trying hard to do actual human things.
Luckily, it gets there. It takes a while, but you can feel the whole thing coming more and more into focus as it goes and if you just have to let cat antics (see, keyword) hold you through the hard times, well, that checks out.
It’s not that our leads get especially better, although they do start to lean more into them as characters instead of just designs. It’s not even that the story becomes gripping or even terribly warm-hearted (this thing doesn’t have a patch on The Masterful Cat is Depressed Again Today).
No, there’s one basic, basic reason this improves: the jokes get better. Seriously, that’s it. When Nyao heads out on patrol to try and stop some thieves, it leads to a tour of Chika’s apartment complex that makes for some well-delivered gags. And then there’s that Setsubun and kibble joke that finally does something with Chika’s clumsiness and nearly had me laughing out loud.
The art is definitely skewed young and that might explain the writing as well, honestly. The cat art is not perfect, but Nyao’s design is pretty good and it’s awfully close to perfect, just not quite there. Almost, but not quite is pretty much the modus operandi here.
And Nyao exploring the previously unknown realms of being a cat and the life of teenage girls is pretty fun. I suspect we might see this really firing on all cylinders next volume, but things like his vision of what teenage girls do together versus reality is really good.
And he occasionally makes some very, very mild hormonal comments and nearly always gets a beatdown from karma as a consequence, which is a fun little touch. There’s nothing wrong with the idea at all, it just needs stronger chops.
Weak start, but a strong finish, and that’s pretty much where you want a story to go, if it has to have weaknesses. I’m definitely looking forward to the next volume; even without that massive improvement towards the end it’s too lighthearted to actively dislike.
3.5 stars - rounded down because I want the last parts of the book to turn into the whole book before I start praising it too much. Be advised that it is for cat lovers through and through, just in case that wasn’t super clear.
When this story starts, it feels like it has exactly zero confidence in itself (the author notes imply this is not merely my imagination), despite being a rather decent set-up that eschews the more ecchi elements in favour of being generally cute and featuring lots of adorable cat behaviour.
It doesn’t help that the premise gets repeated every single chapter, which gets old incredibly fast. And neither Nyao nor Chika are especially well-defined protagonists. He’s a bit dim and she’s clumsy and flighty, but it’s just not enough to hang an entire series on. Cat antics or no.
Let me be perfectly clear: the cat antics (the manga keyword this time out) are great. The mangaka is stellar at aping cat behaviour and Nyao mostly acts like a cat, even when he’s trying hard to do actual human things.
Luckily, it gets there. It takes a while, but you can feel the whole thing coming more and more into focus as it goes and if you just have to let cat antics (see, keyword) hold you through the hard times, well, that checks out.
It’s not that our leads get especially better, although they do start to lean more into them as characters instead of just designs. It’s not even that the story becomes gripping or even terribly warm-hearted (this thing doesn’t have a patch on The Masterful Cat is Depressed Again Today).
No, there’s one basic, basic reason this improves: the jokes get better. Seriously, that’s it. When Nyao heads out on patrol to try and stop some thieves, it leads to a tour of Chika’s apartment complex that makes for some well-delivered gags. And then there’s that Setsubun and kibble joke that finally does something with Chika’s clumsiness and nearly had me laughing out loud.
The art is definitely skewed young and that might explain the writing as well, honestly. The cat art is not perfect, but Nyao’s design is pretty good and it’s awfully close to perfect, just not quite there. Almost, but not quite is pretty much the modus operandi here.
And Nyao exploring the previously unknown realms of being a cat and the life of teenage girls is pretty fun. I suspect we might see this really firing on all cylinders next volume, but things like his vision of what teenage girls do together versus reality is really good.
And he occasionally makes some very, very mild hormonal comments and nearly always gets a beatdown from karma as a consequence, which is a fun little touch. There’s nothing wrong with the idea at all, it just needs stronger chops.
Weak start, but a strong finish, and that’s pretty much where you want a story to go, if it has to have weaknesses. I’m definitely looking forward to the next volume; even without that massive improvement towards the end it’s too lighthearted to actively dislike.
3.5 stars - rounded down because I want the last parts of the book to turn into the whole book before I start praising it too much. Be advised that it is for cat lovers through and through, just in case that wasn’t super clear.
April 8, 2023
It was cute and so was the art! It was very episodic with not much plot. I’m not sure that I’ll pick up the next volume. I was hoping for a little more plot than a slice of life. But if you like cat manga, I think you’d enjoy it. I just don’t think this one’s for me.
July 20, 2023
Is this the best manga I've ever read? No. Is it cute as heck and stupidly light-hearted? Yes! Definitely something I've been needing to take a break with!
March 9, 2025
After getting into a traffic accident on his way home from school, high schooler Nao Kazushiro finds himself in the body of a cat!
Unsure of what to do or how to get back to his human body, Nao is ready to give up all hope. But then, he meets Chika—a cute girl from his school who decides to take Nao—Nyao—home with her.
What follows is Nyao’s quest to get his body back! And, just maybe, find love along the way….
I’m such a sucker for cutesy, little cat stories!
I so love wholesome, little stories like this one that revolve around some sort of cat shenanigans + a thoughtful plot in the background. So far, this series fits that bill.
I really appreciate the character designs so far and the initial premise. It’s all very fun! Additionally, there’s some good humor throughout.
I’m definitely looking forward to reading more. If you’re a fan of cat manga, I’d definitely add this series to your rotation~
Unsure of what to do or how to get back to his human body, Nao is ready to give up all hope. But then, he meets Chika—a cute girl from his school who decides to take Nao—Nyao—home with her.
What follows is Nyao’s quest to get his body back! And, just maybe, find love along the way….
I’m such a sucker for cutesy, little cat stories!
I so love wholesome, little stories like this one that revolve around some sort of cat shenanigans + a thoughtful plot in the background. So far, this series fits that bill.
I really appreciate the character designs so far and the initial premise. It’s all very fun! Additionally, there’s some good humor throughout.
I’m definitely looking forward to reading more. If you’re a fan of cat manga, I’d definitely add this series to your rotation~
March 26, 2022
Dễ thương, nhưng tác giả có thể khum cần nhắc đi nhắc lại lý do, nguyên nhân, tại sao lại có mồn lèo, bla bla ở mỗi chương được không.
August 5, 2024
Cute but not amazing, as it felt quite familiar, both in the rather old fashioned drawing style (for the humans) and the slice of life, daily antics of a cute cat (too many to list). The writing, along with the drawing style, made it read younger than the teenaged protagonists, more like a middle grade manga.
Read
November 25, 2024i need to see
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2025
Funny and delightful
July 25, 2025
It was really enjoyable manga! :D
July 31, 2025
I enjoy cat stories, as well as the occasional body-swap story, so I decided to give this manga series a try. Like other GoodReads reviewers who have read this volume, I will not take the time to seek out the second volume.
Whenever I read manga or comic books that are serialized, I try to remember that I’m only seeing one part of a larger story that is yet to completely unfold. For me, the first volume in any manga series needs to establish a good foundation to build a longer story on, as well as provide compelling hooks to entice readers back to its characters and world. This volume establishes its premise: high school freshman Nao Kazushiro is hit by a car and wakes up in the body of a cat, who is named Nyao. Nyao is adopted by high school student Noyama Chika, and Nao/Nyao frequently tries to figure out why he is a cat and how he can return to his human form.
I enjoyed Nao/Nyao’s many attempts to solve his weird new mysterious situation, most especially when he considers his destiny to be linked to Noyama Chika: “Oh…I see now! What if…I’m in this cat body…Because I’m fated to protect her? And what if I won’t be able to wake up until I’ve finished my mission? Then the curse will be broken, and we’ll live happily ever after! That! Has! To! Be! It! This sorta thing happens in manga all the time!!”
I also enjoyed the art style in this volume because it is very cute—particularly the way that Nyao the cat is drawn. Although this book is very pleasant, I was not as interested in this book as I had hoped to be. The biggest error of My New Life as a Cat, Vol. 1 is that it just…kind of winds down and ENDS, with no cliffhanger. As much as I like cats and body-swap stories, the basic plot of this manga volume is not enough to make me want to know what happens next. If I found the next volume of this manga on a waiting room table at the dentist’s office, I would pick it up and read it, but I wouldn’t make a special trip out of my way to the bookstore to get the next volume. I rate My New Life as a Cat, Vol. 1 as three-out-of-five-stars.
Whenever I read manga or comic books that are serialized, I try to remember that I’m only seeing one part of a larger story that is yet to completely unfold. For me, the first volume in any manga series needs to establish a good foundation to build a longer story on, as well as provide compelling hooks to entice readers back to its characters and world. This volume establishes its premise: high school freshman Nao Kazushiro is hit by a car and wakes up in the body of a cat, who is named Nyao. Nyao is adopted by high school student Noyama Chika, and Nao/Nyao frequently tries to figure out why he is a cat and how he can return to his human form.
I enjoyed Nao/Nyao’s many attempts to solve his weird new mysterious situation, most especially when he considers his destiny to be linked to Noyama Chika: “Oh…I see now! What if…I’m in this cat body…Because I’m fated to protect her? And what if I won’t be able to wake up until I’ve finished my mission? Then the curse will be broken, and we’ll live happily ever after! That! Has! To! Be! It! This sorta thing happens in manga all the time!!”
I also enjoyed the art style in this volume because it is very cute—particularly the way that Nyao the cat is drawn. Although this book is very pleasant, I was not as interested in this book as I had hoped to be. The biggest error of My New Life as a Cat, Vol. 1 is that it just…kind of winds down and ENDS, with no cliffhanger. As much as I like cats and body-swap stories, the basic plot of this manga volume is not enough to make me want to know what happens next. If I found the next volume of this manga on a waiting room table at the dentist’s office, I would pick it up and read it, but I wouldn’t make a special trip out of my way to the bookstore to get the next volume. I rate My New Life as a Cat, Vol. 1 as three-out-of-five-stars.
November 3, 2023
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After a near-death experience, Nao wakes up... as a cat. His human body is in a coma and he has no idea how he wound up in his new form. While he tries to figure it out, he's taken in by a high school classmate, Chika, and renamed Nyao. Now he's learning how to be a cat while trying to reconnect with his human form.
A fun slice-of-life book with an interesting story. Light-hearted with cute artwork. The first volume is a nice set-up of the story. It focuses mostly on episodic adventures of Nyao learning about cat life, settling into his new home, dealing with his clumsy, often-clueless owner, and once in a while attempting to reunite with his human form.
Includes relatable cat-owner experiences such as shedding, escape attempts, and trying to get the best picture. Fun read overall.
After a near-death experience, Nao wakes up... as a cat. His human body is in a coma and he has no idea how he wound up in his new form. While he tries to figure it out, he's taken in by a high school classmate, Chika, and renamed Nyao. Now he's learning how to be a cat while trying to reconnect with his human form.
A fun slice-of-life book with an interesting story. Light-hearted with cute artwork. The first volume is a nice set-up of the story. It focuses mostly on episodic adventures of Nyao learning about cat life, settling into his new home, dealing with his clumsy, often-clueless owner, and once in a while attempting to reunite with his human form.
Includes relatable cat-owner experiences such as shedding, escape attempts, and trying to get the best picture. Fun read overall.
March 29, 2024
A teenage boy with his head in the clouds runs out into the street and is struck by a truck. His physical body is in a coma while his spirit is living in the body of a cat. Then he runs into an adorable teenage girl classmate who takes him home to live with her and much hijinx ensues. If this sounds far fetched, I read a novel with basically the same plot line last year, except the woman was ghostwriting and the man who was hit by a car/in a ghost state traveled home with her to visit her family who ran a funeral parlor. It was very sweet and clever in the same vein as this rom-com manga. Much like my love for psychic kitten detectives who live in bakeries, I love cat manga. All cat manga. It’s been a while and I’m planning on reading all four volumes. Then I’m going to read Cat+Gamer and Cat Massage Therapy. Just you wait!
September 5, 2024
4🌟
SUMMARY
nao kazushiro was in a near fatal car accident, but instead of being loaded into the back of an ambulance, he’s left on the road in a cat form. he inadvertently switched bodies with a cat, watching on as his human body is taken to a nearby hospital. he’s all alone wandering the streets until he’s rescued by a teenage high school student that goes to the same school as him.
noyama chika finds a cute cat on the street and decides to bring him home—except that she doesn’t know that he’s not a cat at all. she doesn’t know that she attends the same high school as her cat.
🌸 rom-com
🌸 freaky-friday retelling
🌸 manga
SPOILERS
nyao initially thinks he’s having a vivid dream, but he can’t seem to wake up. reality sets in and he starts to accept that he did transform into a cat. he has a run in with stray cats, and finds noyama a shortly after that. she brings him home and he finds himself living with a girl for the first time.
nayo starts to feel sluggish and weak, urging noyama to the vet where gets up close and personal with a thermometer. he’ll probably never want to go to the vet clinic ever again. he was shocked to find out that cats need fourteen hours of sleep each day.
i would be so proud if i adopted a cat and found out he could do his business in the toilet. she found a really well behaved cat😂
nyao to find a way to visit himself in the hospital but he winds up at the vet instead on his first attempt. he’s having trouble focusing in his cat form. he tries to remember that he needs to make a plan to get back into his own body but he either forgets or he falls asleep. he does get to enjoy the perks of being a cat though. he gets to overhear super-secret gossip that his owners discusses with any of her close friends.
this was a very cute read! but there were parts of it that were repetitive, going over his predicament at the start of a new chapter. i do wish there was more action of him trying to sneak inside a hospital or something equally dramatic. it would also have been nice to have seen him try to communicate with chika. he could have tried spelling his own name with some kibble.
SUMMARY
nao kazushiro was in a near fatal car accident, but instead of being loaded into the back of an ambulance, he’s left on the road in a cat form. he inadvertently switched bodies with a cat, watching on as his human body is taken to a nearby hospital. he’s all alone wandering the streets until he’s rescued by a teenage high school student that goes to the same school as him.
noyama chika finds a cute cat on the street and decides to bring him home—except that she doesn’t know that he’s not a cat at all. she doesn’t know that she attends the same high school as her cat.
🌸 rom-com
🌸 freaky-friday retelling
🌸 manga
SPOILERS
nyao initially thinks he’s having a vivid dream, but he can’t seem to wake up. reality sets in and he starts to accept that he did transform into a cat. he has a run in with stray cats, and finds noyama a shortly after that. she brings him home and he finds himself living with a girl for the first time.
nayo starts to feel sluggish and weak, urging noyama to the vet where gets up close and personal with a thermometer. he’ll probably never want to go to the vet clinic ever again. he was shocked to find out that cats need fourteen hours of sleep each day.
i would be so proud if i adopted a cat and found out he could do his business in the toilet. she found a really well behaved cat😂
nyao to find a way to visit himself in the hospital but he winds up at the vet instead on his first attempt. he’s having trouble focusing in his cat form. he tries to remember that he needs to make a plan to get back into his own body but he either forgets or he falls asleep. he does get to enjoy the perks of being a cat though. he gets to overhear super-secret gossip that his owners discusses with any of her close friends.
this was a very cute read! but there were parts of it that were repetitive, going over his predicament at the start of a new chapter. i do wish there was more action of him trying to sneak inside a hospital or something equally dramatic. it would also have been nice to have seen him try to communicate with chika. he could have tried spelling his own name with some kibble.
May 12, 2025
Another silly little kitty cat manga that was a romp from start to finish! It was such a delight I think I’ll have another please.
This one has a fun concept of being body swapped into a cat. While I was nervous going into it with it being a boy trapped in a cat’s body who is take in by a female student, I was very pleasantly surprised that the mangaka doesn’t rely on the old anime stereotypes about peeping boys to tell the story. Hooray! Manga I can recommend to my middle school cousins.
Our boy Nao, known as Nyao when he became a cat, is both honestly trying to get his old life back as a human while enjoying the perks of being a cat. Chika, who takes in this cat off the streets, is a clumsy school girl who has only the best intentions. She educates herself on pet ownership and does her best to take care of Nyao.
This one has a fun concept of being body swapped into a cat. While I was nervous going into it with it being a boy trapped in a cat’s body who is take in by a female student, I was very pleasantly surprised that the mangaka doesn’t rely on the old anime stereotypes about peeping boys to tell the story. Hooray! Manga I can recommend to my middle school cousins.
Our boy Nao, known as Nyao when he became a cat, is both honestly trying to get his old life back as a human while enjoying the perks of being a cat. Chika, who takes in this cat off the streets, is a clumsy school girl who has only the best intentions. She educates herself on pet ownership and does her best to take care of Nyao.
June 14, 2023
It's Freaky Friday... with a cat. So, really, the story is a cat learns how to cat.
It's sort of a strange read, since the one weird thing is the body switching, but also that the cat(?) inside the main character's human body seems alive but completely unresponsive. What happened to the cat's spirit/soul/life force/whatever? Is it unable to process being a human, so it's just... CATatonic?
(haha, sorry)
I'm assuming this will be addressed in future volumes. Just kind of a peculiar setting.
It's sort of a strange read, since the one weird thing is the body switching, but also that the cat(?) inside the main character's human body seems alive but completely unresponsive. What happened to the cat's spirit/soul/life force/whatever? Is it unable to process being a human, so it's just... CATatonic?
(haha, sorry)
I'm assuming this will be addressed in future volumes. Just kind of a peculiar setting.
August 12, 2023
Teenage boy Nao is hit by a car and wakes up in the body of cat Nyao.
This is a sweet, somewhat funny story of a human/cat who gets adopted by a messy girl. He thinks she's cute and decides to stay a while before he tries to figure out what to do. Some of the bits where he's getting used to his cat body are nice but mostly I felt like the creator didn't really know cats (or at least didn't lean into it). No cat is going to have trouble getting out of a sink because it's too slippery, for instance. Overall, this is a good hook of an idea but I don't feel the need to continue the series.
This is a sweet, somewhat funny story of a human/cat who gets adopted by a messy girl. He thinks she's cute and decides to stay a while before he tries to figure out what to do. Some of the bits where he's getting used to his cat body are nice but mostly I felt like the creator didn't really know cats (or at least didn't lean into it). No cat is going to have trouble getting out of a sink because it's too slippery, for instance. Overall, this is a good hook of an idea but I don't feel the need to continue the series.
January 16, 2024
I know the reason I keep picking up cat manga--because the covers and drawings are so dang cute. But for whatever reason, I never enjoy reading them, with the exception of the Cat + Gamer, Volume 1 series. Every other cat manga I've read is too cutesy and/or really boring. No plans to continue on with this series. It was just ok.
January 30, 2024
One of the remarkable aspects of "My New Life As A Cat" is its ability to find beauty in simplicity. The storyline is refreshingly straightforward, allowing readers to find the whimsical world of Nyao, a cat who was once a human. This unique concept may initially seem strange, but it adds a layer of intrigue and curiosity that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next book in the series.
August 12, 2024
Your classic cute/fluffy manga which is fine, but the repetition was driving me insane. The chapters are very short, so I keep re-reading the main characters' accident, and him now being a cat every couple of pages. The idea of the plot is funny. But so far, I see no world building, no solid characters or character development, no major hook to keep me reading, etc, etc. I will not be continuing reading this series. On a side note, the artwork was cute.
Read
December 13, 2025C'est vraiment relou que l'autrice rappelle l'histoire à chaque début de chapitre
Je pense que de base c'était une publication hebdomadaire et que ça a été adapté en manga (l'absence de fil conducteur entre les histoires va aussi dans ce sens), mais ça aurait mérité un travail d'édition parce que là c'est juste bizarre et pas agréable à la lecture.
Je pense que de base c'était une publication hebdomadaire et que ça a été adapté en manga (l'absence de fil conducteur entre les histoires va aussi dans ce sens), mais ça aurait mérité un travail d'édition parce que là c'est juste bizarre et pas agréable à la lecture.
October 15, 2023
Cute but highly episodic with each chapter beginning with a recap or stating of the premise. Some of the gags land better than others but overall I found this pretty enjoyable. Enough that I will check out the next few volumes anyway...
December 28, 2023
A case of Freaky Friday, except the switch happens between a teen boy and a cat. The characters are amazing and have their own personalities. Plus, there's something about him in the grumpiest faced cat that adds to the story.
April 24, 2024
A boy wakes up as a cat after getting hit by a car, hijinks ensue. So far it's a cute story with an interesting twist (not a major one, but interesting) and the art makes me think of early 2000s anime and manga, so it's fun and nostalgic for me! I'm definitely reading the next volume!
May 6, 2024
1.8 stars
No plot
Too repetitive as saying the SAME thing over and over in EVERY episode.
Cute cats but not worth to buy, that’s all but it was my first manga I read now so that is cool. Had a hard time understanding the reading order of the squares..? But it was interesting
No plot
Too repetitive as saying the SAME thing over and over in EVERY episode.
Cute cats but not worth to buy, that’s all but it was my first manga I read now so that is cool. Had a hard time understanding the reading order of the squares..? But it was interesting
September 6, 2024
This is super cute. The illustrations match the content perfectly. The author and artist is multi talented. Kudos! The expressions and poses the cat makes is very entertaining. Very realistic as I’ve seen cats do exactly that. Lol!
March 27, 2025
A cute story. A bit repetitive at the start of each chapter but I assume that is because it was initially released in installments (?). A great read for the reader who just wants to enjoy some cat antics and extremely low stakes.
April 8, 2025
Not for me. The story set ups in this volume are too repetitive. Explain why you're a cat. Crush on girl. Get in/out of trouble. Get petted and act smug. Repeat.
The general letch-yness of the premise isn't for me, either. Teenage boys can even ruin cats - they're that awful.
The general letch-yness of the premise isn't for me, either. Teenage boys can even ruin cats - they're that awful.
Read
July 10, 2025No stars DNF
Nope too silly for me and didn't like the story, therefore I didn't finish it.
For the rest of the review, visit my Vlog at:
https://youtube.com/shorts/M2dS_Hvr_W...
Enjoy!
Nope too silly for me and didn't like the story, therefore I didn't finish it.
For the rest of the review, visit my Vlog at:
https://youtube.com/shorts/M2dS_Hvr_W...
Enjoy!
September 29, 2025
Ts is so peak I can't even begin to tell you.
Ok lemme begin to tell you: The book is cute and sweet adn silly with not a whole lot of stakes. The art is adorable and the faces that Nyao makes does nothing but warm my soul. The best part is that there isn't any fan service.
Ok lemme begin to tell you: The book is cute and sweet adn silly with not a whole lot of stakes. The art is adorable and the faces that Nyao makes does nothing but warm my soul. The best part is that there isn't any fan service.
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