toads_tf-catgirls-
If you actually want to play something on sale in the visual novel genre with a 'pretty amazing' story, get danganronpa. It's a really well-written murder mystery with rpg elements. I honestly can't recommend it enough, it and its sequel are the best games I've played this year.
Maybe don't play it if you absolutely hate reading because there is a lot of text (as the visual novel tag would indicate) but it also has lots of gameplay elements. And the soundtrack is top notch as well. This is probably the best 'art' in the form of a game I've ever played, just because the story and the gameplay are tailored so well together. And are both so surprising sometimes. This is not your typical weeb game.
Also the closest thing to a catgirl in that game is a badass murderous teddy bear. So that's good.