The Cat with Three Passports

What a Japanese cat taught me about an old culture and new beginnings.

By: CJ Fentiman

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

‘A heartwarming memoir.’ –Australian Reader’s Digest

A girl struggling to fit in. A homeless kitten. An unexpected job offer in an unfamiliar country that changes everything.CJ had a long history of escaping places and people she wasn't fond of. But for the sake of a silver tabby, she decided to stay in Japan for a while. This decision helped her open up her heart and mind, revisit her way of thinking, and reconnect with her estranged family. Let this heartwarming memoir take you to the land of cats and cherry trees as you read about CJ's adventures - from the craziness of Furukawa's naked men festival, the experience of forest bathing and the significance of finding a life purpose or ikigai, to the temples of Takayama, and wonders of Cat Island - you'll see what a homeless kitten found outside a temple in Japan taught her about an old culture and new beginnings.


Award winner in the Animals/Pets: Narrative Non-Fiction Category at the 2021 International Book Awards, USA


‘The author’s warmth of personality comes across so strongly that I felt totally enraptured by her responses to the evolving scenes and events.’ –Reader’s Favorite, USA


‘CJ has excelled in her craft with her wondrous writing skills. The book is said to be a memoir, but it is as interesting as a fiction novel.’ –Inertia Speaks, India


‘An uplifting memoir that will probably make you want to visit Japan.’ –Emma B Books, UK


‘This is a delightful book that will be especially appreciated by pet lovers and travelers. I loved that the book is whimsically enhanced by Japanese proverbs about cats at the beginning of each chapter.’ –Heather Diamond, author of Rabbit in the Moon


‘I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming memoir.’ –Conscious Cat, USA


‘By sharing her journey of self-discovery, CJ elevates her memoir beyond that of simply a travel log or a cat tale.’ –Lincoln Pet Culture, USA

cat travel story

I loved her courage and how she discovered her ikigai through rescuing her cat. I am curious to know what more she discovered and how her life evolved.

Cadence is the Lifeblood of Storytelling

The Cat with Three Passports: What a Cat Taught Me About an Old Culture and New Beginnings by C.J. Fentiman is a sweet and interesting story about a young couple, their experiences teaching English abroad, and some cats that come into their lives.

Unfortunately, the story becomes muddled and stalled by the robotic tone of the virtual voice narration. It is strange that the virtual voice makes so many mistakes in inflection, timing, pausing, and pronunciation. One might expect that an app or a program might have correct pronunciations built into it, but not in this instance. The lack of natural vocal cadence was particularly injurious to the material.

The story and overall descriptions are strong enough that it held my interest long enough for me to finish listening until the end. The use of Virtual Voice instead of a trained actor was definitely a missed opportunity to elevate and enhance the impact of the book. I would recommend this to fans of the author. It might be a nice, light read for cat lovers, as well.