My Roommate is a Cat (同居人はひざ、時々、頭のうえ。)

An old house showing no signs of life...

sees the shadow of a visitor approach.

Hello!

It was...

It's Okami.

Here.

Yeah, right!

That kind of mystery novel scenario would never actually happen!

Thank you.

And I'm sorry... When I stopped to think about it,

I realized I never really introduced myself to you.

So... My name is Okami Nana.

Uh... Same here.

Anyway, what brings you over here today?

This must be the Haru-chan I've heard about!

Hello!

She's not nearly as fat as I expected.

I'm sure you can bring her weight back down in no time.

I hope so...

But it seems like there's a problem with the way I feed her.

Really?

If you don't mind, can you show me how you normally feed her?

Normally...

Normal...

That's too much!

My Roommate is a Cat

What I Want to Tell You

I'm sorry!

It was so much more than I'd imagined, I couldn't believe it...

She's always eaten every last bit, so I thought it was right...

A cat with a big appetite will eat as much as you give them.

A cat Haru-chan's size

only needs around this amount, twice a day.

That's not much!

G-Got it. I'll go with that amount from now on.

Oh, but...

If you suddenly reduce the amount, it can end up causing stress.

So just make sure she gets lots of exercise

and gradually reduce the amount of food you give her.

For example...

I'd recommend something like this.

I-Is that... a drink bottle?

Yes. You cut a hole in it just big enough for the food to fit through...

I'll just show you how it works.

Haru-chan!

There!

She'll have to roll it several times to get the food out.

Huh... Looks like she's having fun.

Eating too fast is one cause of obesity.

By making them take their time to eat, they'll feel full faster,

and it's a good form of exercise that utilizes their hunting instincts.

This works really well.

I never would've thought of something like this on my own.

Haru-chan seems very active, so I'm sure she'll slim down in no time.

My cat hates exercise, so I had a hard time with him.

Really?

This is him when he was at his fattest.

So round!

H-He looks like a ball of yarn.

I spoiled him too much...

And this is a recent picture.

Wow!

Oh, you have two?

Yeah!

This one is Hachi,

and the one that was fat is Roku.

I see Haru in that same pose a lot...

Roku is three years old, and Hachi is... still under six months, I think.

They both... sort of bear a resemblance...

to you.

Huh? You think so?

No one's ever said that before...

But they do say that your looks and behaviors end up being similar

when you're family.

Hey, Subaru, Dad!

Oh, gosh!

You two are just like twins!

That's true...

Mom...

liked animals, too.

If she were still alive...

Mikazuki Family Grave

Family, huh?

Haru must have had a family once, too...

I wonder if she ever wishes she could see her family again.

Thanks for all your help today.

Don't mention it.

If you ever have any more problems, drop by the store anytime.

Wait, isn't that...

Okami-san's key?

Don't hiss at me!

Come on, let go of—

It's stuck on her claw!

It's probably her house key!

And I... don't know her number...

It's only been a few minutes... She should still be close!

Wait, just calm down.

She'll come back when she notices it's missing.

I don't need to go...

We've got to help each other out, right?

There's...

still time!

There she is!

O-Okami-san!

Subaru-san? Wh-What's the matter?

Oh! My house key!

But why'd you bring Haru-chan, too?

Oh... Her claw is really stuck.

It's probably safer to cut it than to try to force it out.

I'll bring the tool from my house right now.

Just wait here for a bit!

Uh, but... Isn't this your house key?

R-Right, it is...

Sorry about this, Haru-chan.

I'll be right back with something to cut it.

You're welcome to wait inside.

Uh... No, I should...

H-Hey!

Hachi, Roku, I'm home.

When you get involved with others,

sometimes things go in directions you never expected.

Just like...

this!

Wh-Wh-Wh-What are you doing?!

Haru!

You hurt someone else's cat!

Haru—

Thank goodness! Looks like the other cat isn't hurt!

Now's my chance!

Come on, get over here!

Haru!

I must've been crazy.

There's no way a human and an animal can understand each other.

Subaru-san, I'm sorry. I can't seem to find my safety scissors...

Huh?

I thought it seemed noisy, but it looks like they're getting along great.

P-Please get that cat away from Haru, quickly!

She bit his neck a minute ago!

I'm sorry!

Huh?

Oh... It looks like everything's fine.

Hachi isn't acting scared at all.

I'm sure she was just scolding Hachi for getting too rambunctious.

Is that... what it was?

Hachi! Hacchan!

You're in a good mood, huh?

Did she play with you? How nice!

H-He comes when you call him?

Huh?

I call Haru, but she...

never comes to me.

O-Oh, no...

A lot of that depends on the cat's personality.

Do you use her name often at home?

Her... name?

Well, I do when I feed her...

And also... when I feed her... I guess...

Now that I think about it,

I doubt she understood any human language at all, though.

That's true... Animals don't understand our language.

That makes it difficult to communicate with them, doesn't it?

But that's why, instead of using words,

you need to do all you can to convey your feelings.

Rather than whether they understand or not,

I think what's important is that you try to communicate.

That's easy to say...

But I've been calling her since we got here...

Mikazuki-kun!

You're here by yourself again?