Happy Caturday! We once again return to some adorable manga focused on some cute furry friends. With a Dog AND a Cat, Every Day is Fun was a pick-up during the large digital manga sale on BookWalker earlier this month. I’ve been looking for more manga and comics to feature during our Caturday Specials, and this one just looked adorable and hilarious. And, luckily I was right! Hidekichi Matsumoto has created a really cute manga that takes a look at pet ownership from the perspective of someone who owns both a cat and a dog, and the differences in their personalities. The contrast between her puppy Inu and her cat Neko create the comedy, and the autobiographical nature of the stories allow the reader to really relate to each situation. I wound up really enjoying this first volume and will probably wind up picking up the next one very soon. I encourage you all to as well!
With a Dog AND a Cat, Every Day is Fun is a collection of short, two-page comics about the author’s life living with her cat Neko and her dog Inu. Each comic focuses on a different day or antic that goes on with their life such as trimming their nails, buying new toys, or how animals help with depression. Hidekichi Matsumoto puts together a lot of really cute and relatable scenarios for people who also own pets, specifically cats and dogs.
Matsumoto’s art style is one that’s reminiscent of a webcomic, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s how this manga started. It’s quick, sketchy, and very stylistic which helps get her comedy across quickly and efficiently. With two pages per topic, there’s only so much she can put in there. Even though her art is fairly simplified, the comics are still hilariously cute. Matsumoto plays up the cuteness of Inu and the grumpy feline nature of Neko to the point of pure comedy, and I think that’s all the comic really needs. The way she styles herself and her pets winds up being perfect for the kind of manga she’s going for: cute and simple comedy.
I also love how Matsumoto injects some realism into each of her comics with pictures of her actual pets between pages and then Neko’s real face at the end of each comic like a running gag. In this way, she’s creating a more personal feel to the comic, drawing readers in to more closely relate to her and her pets through their actual photos. Also, I do rightly feel that every comic about real pets should have some kind of pet tax. I really love seeing how her depictions of both of her pets relate to their real selves.
As a cat owner myself, I can absolutely relate to most of these comics. I spent my childhood with dogs too, and now own my own and volunteer with cats, so I love seeing these comics that play up the antics of pets in a realistic way. The struggles of getting nails clipped, the difficulty getting a pet into the bath, or the kind of frenzy a cat may get into in the middle of the night. It’s hilarious how different Inu is in personality to Neko and seeing how they clash and yet still wind up being friends and playing together in the end. The way Matsumoto plays up their differences makes the comedy really work.
There’s more to this manga than comedy though and I loved the rare moments where Matsumoto opens up about her depression and how her pets help her get through it. She still keeps these comics light and funny, but I love seeing this openness and heartwarming nature of pet ownership reflected here. Pets can be so beneficial when it comes to our mental health, and I think especially during this difficult time, it’s comforting seeing these kinds of comics and manga that reflect on what our pets can do for us and how they enrich our lives overall. And while Neko just generally seems ornery all the time, we see that he still comes over to her for affection especially if Inu is hogging the spotlight. The truly unconditional love of Inu just puts the cherry on top of cuteness and warm-hearted comedy.
If you’re a pet owner or animal lover, I highly suggest checking this manga out. It’s a quick read and packs a lot of comedy that is both relatable, adorable, and heartwarming. Matsumoto puts her crazy pets on display for us, showing how two very different animals can get along with their contrasting personalities.
It’s a short review for tonight, but I hope you all go out and read this manga for yourself. Let me know in the comments what you think, if I’ve convinced you to read it, or anything else that comes to mind. I’m always looking for suggestions on new cat-themed comics to feature here as well.
~~Thanks for Reading!~~
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