The Cat Who Went to Heaven is a 1930 novel by Elizabeth Coatsworth that won the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature in 1931. It was based on an old Buddhist folk tale, and is a highly symbolic work dealing with the concepts of Buddhism and the evils of material gain.

The Story

A poor Japanese painter, who has fallen on hard times, sends his housekeeper out to buy food. Instead, she brings home a white cat from the dock, stating that the house is "lonely". Although initially unhappy (as he is quite hungry and remarks that he can't remember what rice cakes taste like, and states that cats are devils), the good behaviour of the cat leads him to change his mind. He names the cat Good Fortune soon after he notes the good behavior of the cat. At breakfast, the painter notes the cat praying to the image of Buddha. The painter comments on his own lack of attention to prayer, as a result of the hard times he has lived through. Soon after, he notices the hungry cat catch, then release a bird. The cat seems to be given human characteristics: it removes itself when it cannot be useful and follows the proper social behaviour.

Almost completely moneyless, the painter is commissioned by the temple (which concluded to hire him after putting slips of paper in the court-yard and seeing which remained) to paint a picture of the death of Buddha, accompanied by animals. The painter is given a large sum of money as a first payment, to "put his mind at ease". Despite the good fortune, the painter soon realizes that money cannot solve his problems. The cat, who is seen by the artist as a great figure cannot be glorified in the painting, due to the supposedly unlucky nature of cats that prevents them from entering Nirvana. This is because, according to classic Buddhist beliefs, the cat in Buddha's time rebelled against him, did not receive his blessing and so cannot enter heaven.

When the picture is completed, Good Fortune seems to notice and protest the lack of the cat in the painting. Deeply touched by her sadness, the artist finally paints a small cat together with the rest of the animals, knowing that it will displease the monks. Upon seeing this, Good Fortune dies of happiness. The mural is finally delivered and praised by the monks until they notice the presence of the cat, and reject it. Nevertheless, the evening brings the news of a miracle: people gather around the mural, and the painter arrives to find the image of the Lord Buddha extending his hand as a blessing over a small white cat.