We'll Prescribe You Another Cat

This book is the sequel to We'll Prescribe You a Cat. These books offer four short fantasy stories about people in emotional pain. They find a mental health clinic while out walking around and step inside to ask questions. At the entrance to the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul in Kyoto they meet an irritable nurse who states the doctor had a cancelation and can see them immediately. After telling the doctor what's bothering them they are prescribed a cat to take home for ten days. 

The publisher's summary:

Though it’s a mysteriously located clinic with an uncertain address, it can always be found by those who need it. And the clinic has proven time after time that a prescribed cat has the power to heal the emotional wounds of its patients. This charming sequel introduces a new lovable cast of healing cats, from Kotetsu, a four-month-old Bengal who unleashes his boundless energy by demolishing bed linens and curtains, to tenacious and curious Shasha, who doesn’t let her small size stop her from anything, and the most lovable yet lazy cat Ms. Michiko, who is as soft and comforting as mochi.

As characters from one chapter appear as side characters in the next, we follow a young woman who cannot help pushing away the man who loves her, a recently widowed grandfather whose grandson refuses to leave his room, the family of a young woman who struggle to understand each other, and an anxious man who works at a cat shelter seeking to show how the most difficult cats can be the most rewarding. This moving, magical novel of interconnected tales proves the strength in the unfathomable bond between cats and people.

The book is about a Kyoto psychiatrist who prescribes a cat to every patient as a unique form of therapy for people with life problems. The prescription is always for ten days after which the cat must be returned to the doctor. This sequel is a little different as the patients are given cats with special medical needs. Food and litter are dispensed at the clinic along with a log that the patients must fill out every day with their cat's progress. The stories showcase the healing power of animals with a touch of fantasy thrown in for good measure. When the return to the clinic the logs are read by the doctor and he always says the patients did a good job taking care of the animal.

As the summary above states, only people in deep emotional pain can open the door to the clinic and this is where the fantasy comes in. Not everyone can see the alleyway where the business practice is located. Each cat has a litter box issue to be resolved and it is always about their poop mixed in with the litter. Ya'll know what that's like, right?  The real identity of the doctor and nurse are revealed in the last chapter. I was not expecting this surprise but it was a pleasant surprise.

This book was a delightful read, a perfect end to the stressful day I had. If you love cats, you will love it. 5 out of 5 stars.