The Cat and the Dragon (猫と竜) is a Japanese light novel series written by Amara and illustrated by Mai Ōkuma. It was originally posted as a series of stories on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō from September 2013 to June 2014, before being published in print by Takarajimasha since April 2016. A manga adaptation illustrated by Izumi Sasaki began serialization on Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! Web manga website in September 2017, and has been compiled into twelve volumes as of November 2025. An anime television series adaptation produced by OLM is set to premiere in July 2026.
Plot
Many years ago, a dragon hatched inside a cave where a family of cats lived. Encountering the baby dragon, the cats decide to raise it as one of their own. As years passed and the cats left him behind, he grows and vows to protect them. However, after seeing cats that were killed by humans for their fur, the dragon takes revenge, killing the adventurers who killed the cats. However, after an encounter with another cat, who reminded him of his past, he develops a cat-like form.
Characters
- Nekoryū (猫竜)
- A dragon with an attachment to cats due to being raised by them. Initially angry at humans for killing cats, he changes his mind after a fateful encounter, after which he changes to have a cat-like appearance.
- Mama-nyan (ママにゃん)
- Shirotae (シロタエ)
- Kurobane (クロバネ)
- Haibuchi (ハイブチ)
- Chiikuro (チークロ)
- Kurotama (クロタマ)
Media
Light novel
Written by Amara, The Cat and the Dragon was originally posted as a series of stories on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō from September 6, 2013, to June 18, 2014.[3] It was later acquired by Takarajimasha who began publishing it with illustrations by Mai Ōkuma on April 22, 2016. Nine volumes have been released as of November 26, 2025.
Manga
A manga adaptation illustrated by Izumi Sasaki began serialization on Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! Web manga website on September 22, 2017.[13] The manga's chapters have been compiled into twelve volumes as of November 2025.
Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on National Cat Day on February 22, 2025.[26] It will be produced by OLM and directed by Jin-Koo Oh, with series composition handled by Mitsutaka Hirota, characters designed by Rie Nishino and Chiaki Kurakazu, and music composed by Takahiro Obata. The series is set to premiere in July 2026 on Tokyo MX and other networks.[27][28]
Reception
By April 2025, the series had over 1 million copies in circulation.[26]
External links
- at Shōsetsuka ni Narō
References
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/266069 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, January 21, 2018, retrieved February 12, 2025^
- Egan Loo. The Cat and the Dragon Anime's New Video Announces More Cast Anime News Network, February 21, 2026, retrieved February 21, 2026^
- https://ncode.syosetu.com/s5614b/ Shōsetsuka ni Narō, retrieved February 12, 2025^
- Takarajimasha^
- Takarajimasha^
- Takarajimasha^
- Takarajimasha^
- Takarajimasha^
- Takarajimasha^
- Takarajimasha^
- Takarajimasha^
- Takarajimasha^
- https://ln-news.com/articles/60455 LN-News.com, September 22, 2017, retrieved February 12, 2025^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/265913 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, January 20, 2018, retrieved February 12, 2025^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/287822 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, June 23, 2018, retrieved February 12, 2025^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/322511 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, March 6, 2019, retrieved February 12, 2025^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/374863 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, April 11, 2020, retrieved February 12, 2025^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/405491 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, February 25, 2019, retrieved February 12, 2025^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/440203 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, November 24, 2020, retrieved February 12, 2025^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/473570 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, April 13, 2022, retrieved February 12, 2025^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/512262 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, February 15, 2023, retrieved February 12, 2025^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/540148 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, September 22, 2023, retrieved February 12, 2025^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/575241 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, June 13, 2024, retrieved February 12, 2025^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/617412 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, April 3, 2025, retrieved February 12, 2025^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/647538 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, November 21, 2025, retrieved November 20, 2025^
- Alex Mateo. The Cat and the Dragon Novels/Manga Get TV Anime Anime News Network, February 21, 2025, retrieved February 21, 2025^
- Alex Mateo. The Cat and the Dragon Anime Reveals Trailer, Cast, Staff, July 2026 Premiere Anime News Network, November 11, 2025, retrieved November 11, 2025^
- Egan Loo. The Cat and the Dragon Anime's New Video Announces More Cast Anime News Network, February 24, 2026^