Kara Dennison
February 22, 2025 
Nya-nya-nya! February 22 (2/22) is National Cat Day in Japan. The holiday was established in 1978 and celebrated ever since. People across the country celebrate by sharing photos of their feline friends, or by picking up themed merch and snacks from local shops. As for us? We’re celebrating by highlighting some of this season’s feline-coded anime heroines! Some are cat in name only; others are literal catgirls. But we love them all! Who’s your favorite?
Neko Tsukahara
Our first Cat Day honoree is technically cat in name only. But her whole vibe is strangely feline so she earns a spot here. Neko is one of the lost souls of Tasokare Hotel, the building that gives this season’s puzzle-game-based anime its name. As a newly-minted staffer at the hotel, Neko helps the faceless patrons remember who they are. In doing so, she hopes to remember her own circumstances, either returning to life or moving on.
But it isn’t just Neko’s name that ears her a spot on this list. Her generally deadpan demeanor and staring eyes mean many people write her off as emotionless. But she has very strong feelings about everyone around her—affectionate and otherwise. Once you get used to her, you learn to read her moods. And that sort of reminds us of a certain beloved house pet.
Ryoka Miketa
Also known as Miketaro, this cat-coded athlete is a force to be reckoned with in the anime adaptation of Medalist. This season’s new figure skating anime centers on Inori, an 11-year-old aspiring figure skater. She wants to go for the gold (literally), but her age makes that difficult. (Yes, starting at 11 is indeed starting late!) But with talent, hard work, and a dedicated coach, she just might make it.
Among the friendly rivals Inori meets is “Miketaro,” a young skater with an inbuilt distrust of adults. She reminds us more than anything of a spicy feral kitten: understandably suspicious of everyone, and thus reacting violently to kindness. But for all Miketaro’s aggression, her coach Mario still believes in her.
Myarey
We’d be remiss in forgetting a literal cat in our Cat Day lineup! Myarey hails from The Daily Life of a Middle-Aged Online Shopper in Another World. She’s one of Kenichi’s many admirers… she’s just much more bold about it than others. This beastwoman first meets Kenichi during his early days as a merchant. And when he eventually moves house with his adopted daughter Anemone, Myarey invites herself along.
The beastfolk, Myarey included, are generally cheerful and love good food. She’s also extremely affectionate, occasionally climbing into bed with Kenichi unbidden. But she’s not the only woman in Kenichi’s life… and soon, she won’t even be the only beastwoman in Kenichi’s life!
Speaking of cats we love, let’s look back on Wonderful Precure!
