To call The Cat Who Went to Heaven an "animal story" is to mislead the reader, for its poetic character, serene mood, and lyrical approach to the basic belief of Eastern thought take the book far beyond the realm of storybook.

The plot is deceptively simple. A Japanese artist, in the midst of severe hardship, and his devoted housekeeper, take in a stray cat whom they name "Good Fortune." Despite the artist's feeling that cats are unlucky (it was the only animal to refuse to honor Buddha and is denied an afterlife), his kind nature wins out, and, to his surprise, his luck changes. He is commissioned by the local priests to create for the temple a painting depicting the death of Buddha.

Delighted by this sudden turn in his luck, the artist meditates for three days, envisioning himself as the young Prince Siddhartha...