The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again Today Vol. 4

デキる猫は今日も憂鬱 [Dekiru Neko wa Kyō mo Yūutsu] #4

by Hitsuzi Yamada

To everyone in her office, Saku looks like she's got a perfect handle on things. What they don't know is that she's actually a disorganized slob, and only looks together thanks to her masterful cat, Yukichi! With Christmas coming up, Saku wants to get Yukichi something special to thank him for all he does for her. Will she be able to find a present that's as unique as he is?!

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

138 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 9, 2020

About the author

Hitsuzi Yamada (山田 ヒツジ, Yamada, Hitsuzi) is a Japanese cartoonist, best known for the manga series The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again Today, which debutted in 2018.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having hooked me last volume, this one is just too gentle and too mild as it treads water and wanders off topic. The search for a Christmas present for her masterful cat sends Saku down a Sea Slug Squad: Umyu-Sea rabbit hole, and we spend way too much time learning about the musical idol girl group and their new cookbook. ~yawn~

With the first page complaining about Mondays, this retread of previous jokes really feels like a week of Garfield comic strip limbo more than the book I was growing to like.

Back on probation.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yukichi continues to raise his human, Fukuzawa, and they continue to have about as strong a relationship as is possible between, well, a cat and anything in this world.

This volume doesn’t exactly put its best foot forward, going back to the old saw about how good Fukuzawa’s food looks now and how she can’t reveal anything and how Yukichi near smothers her to keep her calm. Yeah, Fukuzawa is supposed to be a pathetic character, but this drags her down a bit further than I like.

Subsequent stories fare a bit better - I love the reintroduction of the shopgirl with a crush on Fukuzawa, even if it’s pretty obvious that any romance is going to be with our heroine’s boss and this is just some yuri bait. Her crush is really adorable though and that store is always a dependable source of laughs.

We also check in on the kitten that Yukichi adopted and learn that it’s trying to take after his hero in some pretty amusing ways that also translate into a lot of likes on social media. It’s all cute enough, especially when Yukichi decides later on to attempt many popular challenges that regular cats go through.

Still, every time I think this series is doing just cute enough, it finds a way to come along and wow me. That’s no different here, where the Christmas story is just wall-to-wall hilarious and sweet, just like you’d want.

From unexpected senpai to wild preparations to unfortunate dating attempts to some genuine emotions and forgetting to breathe, this is just an encapsulation of the wild silliness with heart that the series does so well.

The subsequent stories are also a cut above, as Yukichi’s baby clothes and his unknown talent for beatboxing become major plot points and Fukuzawa’s hapless attempts to do the right thing by Yukichi backfire on her as usual.

There are definitely some duds and weaker stories in here, which especially hurts when the page count is so scant to begin with, but the stuff that works always works so well that it mostly overcomes it. If you’re not moved at the origin of Yukichi’s love for Umyu-Sea, the magical girl idols, this might not be the series for you.

3.5 stars - look, the cat beatboxes and we learn that sea slugs are picky eaters, even as magical girls, I don’t know what else you even want from a story like this?

[Ken Yuen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another masterful volume. Love her little friends Yume and Dia. The coworkers have the funniest reaction to Fukuzawa. Bonus chapter features the Sea Slug Squad, a Sailor Moon/Sentai parody that involves cooking.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

i was feeling awful and this healed me

It’s so simple and fluffy, a very nice story that heals you with the tsundere charm of giant cat Yukichi and his clueless owner Saku. I’m glad that I picked it up today, I needed something soft and wholesome and this was perfect!

[Sakura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I was a little disappointed with the last book, this one was definitely better for me!! I think that with any comedy, there will be ups and downs- this volume was a ‘up’ for me! I really enjoyed the first part about ‘Mondays’, and the struggle of Saku trying to pretend that Yukichi is a normal cat to her co-workers. It’s always so funny, and I just adore her boss. That aside, my favorite parts were probably the sea slug idol’s book signing. I don’t know, I find the fact that they are such a big part of this series so endearing, and I also love Yume, who is usually present in anything involving them. I found myself smiling and nearly laughing many times. This one was very light hearted and sweet. I would recommend you pick this up!

(This book contains comedic blood, as well as some language, alcohol, and some of Saku’s co-workers trying to get dates with her. I would give it an age rating of 13+, although this volume was a lot more mild than most of them.)

[Iqra M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series and the character dynamics, but somehow, this volume fell flat for me. Hence, the 4 stars. I’m not really into the Sea Slug Squad, I guess. The heavy narration was quite off-putting. Or maybe I was just not feeling it today. However, there are a lot of fun and heartwarming scenes.

The boss remains sceptical of Fukuzawa’s exterior—how can she be this put together? Will Yuki be revealed to him soon? I wonder how he would react. It must be nice to have a butler who is a fluffy and adorable cat. I am too tired to get my life together. Lol.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Character development in my cozy manga? Plot progression and backstories in my cozy manga? How can it be? I’m so glad they are showing more about the characters and it’s not just a bunch of cute stories (not saying the stories aren’t cute). I’m just loving the reoccurring characters and how the plot is developing. The main character is actually developing and the relationship between cat and human is getting more healthy and balanced. It’s actually solving some of my problems with the first few books.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually 3.5 Stars

I loved finally getting to see how Yukichi became masterful, but it felt a little like moving backwards in how much we're reminded about just how useless and fumbling Fukuzawa is. I've been loving the arc of her through the last two volumes and this one kind of felt like one step forward and two steps back.

[Coral Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

It keeps getting cuter and finally we see some plot progression.

Also really enjoying the flashbacks to kitten Yukichi - it's helping to round out the story and it's lovely to see the situation through his eyes.

[Samantha Soper · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO GOOD. I love this series so much. As a cat owner, there are so many little joyful moments of cat ownership, even though the story itself is quite fantastical! Lifted me right out of my bad mood yesterday. Can't wait to read Vol. 5.

[Riya Bhatia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fukuzawa works hard for Yukichi’s present (a signed cookbook by his favourite tv show character) and Yukichi goes all out for Christmas! We get to know how Yukichi got to cooking and how he learnt how to separate the trash. Yukichi creates a tiny version of himself with his cat fur (aw).
MUST. PROTECT. YUKICHI.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Dai-chan (white kitten) trying to walk on their hind legs like Yukichi does, is so sweet. I love the effort she went to to get an amazing Christmas gift for Yukichi and that the little Yume helped her with the crowds and the book signing.

[Hazelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart is full again! 💖 I love this manga so much! Yukichi makes me want to work hard and master things. Another wholesome volume.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story about a woman and her cat.

[Bentgaidin · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again Today' is adorable and clever, and I'm so happy to continue to get new and intriguing ways that this masterful cat can help care for his person.

[Babs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Makes me smile so much.

[Rebo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has become one of my fave series….! I’m so bummed I’m finished with the last, currently released volume 💔

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another very fun volume! I love getting more backstory (and more stuff about the sea slug heroines, haha).

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love this series.

[Macy Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A christmas story! And an adorable read

[Marcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this as much as the first 3!

[Loz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing and gentle

[Rebecca Whaley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this! I want a Yukichi of my own. Just wonderful.

[Allegra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another very cute volume. That lengths they'll go through to love and help each other is so heartwarming. Very adorable.

[Mateen Mahboubi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm beginning to wonder how depressed this cat actually is. He seems to be pretty productive!

[Nicole Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cat as Santa clause made me laugh so hard.

[Emilie Dormoy-Laflamme · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute! The Christmas part is my favorite!

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yukichi is still silly

[Skye (Skye's Scribblings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

These have really grown on me.

[Makenzie May · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series makes me so happy everytime I read it. I loved that we got more of a back story for Yukichi in this book!