The Cat Who Went to Heaven

Originally published in 1930, Elizabeth Coatsworth's The Cat Who Went to Heaven was the Newbery Medal winner in 1931, and relates the story of a poor Japanese artist, his devoted housekeeper, and the gentle cat that comes into their lives. Angry at first, when his housekeeper brings home a little white kitten, rather than the dinner he had been expecting, the artist is reconciled to his new pet - soon named "Good Fortune" - by her quiet good manners, and by her obvious devotion to him, to the housekeeper, and to the Buddha. When the village priest commissions a painting of the Buddha for the temple, the artist immerses himself in the life of his subject, "living" the Enlightened One's life, and becoming each animal that visited him upon show more his deathbed. But although Good Fortune keeps faithful watch with him, as he begins his great work, and obviously longs to be included, the artist can not include her in the painting. After all, the cat was the only animal to refuse the Buddha's teaching, and the only animal not blessed by him...

This brief chapter-book (sixty-three pages, in my edition), which alternates between the main prose narrative, and short poems ostensibly written by the housekeeper, has the feeling of folklore to it. The author references the classic Japanese tale of The Boy Who Drew Cats in her text, as well as many different stories about the life of the Buddha, and his reincarnated lives in various animal forms. I found myself wondering how accurate Coatsworth's depiction was of some of these traditions, particularly as it related to Buddhist beliefs about cats. Are they really considered the only animal that is barred from heaven? Did the Japanese truly regard them as demonic? What about the lucky Beckoning Cat? Leaving this issue aside, I found the story itself very engaging, and I think young readers who enjoy animal stories will as well.

There is an incredibly poignant quality to this story, and while Good Fortune's death from pure joy, when the artist relents, and includes her in the painting, sets up the concluding miracle very well - from a storytelling perspective, happy endings often work best when they follow upon terrible tragedy - this aspect of the tale is still troubling. Troubling in a good way... a haunting way. I am reminded of Tomi DePaola's The Clown of God, which was a childhood favorite of mine, and which also tells the story of a miracle. A miracle that, like this one, requires a joyful sacrifice. Perhaps all miracles do? Something I'll have to think about... show less

A poor artist's housekeeper comes home one day with a little cat. Against his better judgment, the artist keeps her, calling her "Good Fortune". When he is chosen to paint a scroll of the death of Buddha for the temple, Good Fortune sits with him as he paints all the animals who were blessed by Buddha, finding the Buddha-nature in each, (though she doesn't think much of the dog). But the artist cannot include a cat in his painting, because cats, being independent creatures, had refused homage to Buddha. Nevertheless, in the end, he risks it, and a miracle occurs.

I don't mind saying I cried at the end of this book.

Very cute. It's a fairy tale, pretty much - the characters are symbols rather than people. But it's a lovely little story, about faith and kindness; it also tells the story of the Buddha very elegantly. I was crying at the end.

This is one of the books that has always captured my mind since I was a child and it will always rate high on my reading list even for its age.

I have been blessed to have come across a Great Britain first edition whose pictures are more charming and beautiful than the one that I grew up with. Its the beauty of these pictures that emphasizes the story while adding to it a refreshing depth although the old housekeeper probably could have been drawn better.

The story is vintage and being set in an exotic background can be somewhat hard to relate with while bringing a sweetly unique flavor to this book. Otherwise Elizabeth's superb writing talent, her beautiful prose and emotional talent in weaving her masterpiece shows why this book has show more been a lasting story for mostly any people who have gotten a chance to read it.

What makes this book special to me is the fact that even though the religion isn't Christian it searches rather sweetly the concepts of sacrifice, love and compassion while making you question your own limits. Would you love so fiercely like the tiger that you would be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice? Are you able to open yourself to making others happy even if it could mean the loss of everything? And is there such a thing as never being able to forgive? Of having to always live under the same stereotypes since of what someone else has done?

And to make the story so much sweeter you have the additional stories of Buddha that adds a bit of flavor while examining these moral trials. Altogether it's an unforgettable introduction to a little known world that still faces the roughest questions that we ask ourselves..... show less

This is one of the books that has always captured my mind since I was a child and it will always rate high on my reading list even for its age.

I have been blessed to have come across a Great Britain first edition whose pictures are more charming and beautiful than the one that I grew up with. Its the beauty of these pictures that emphasizes the story while adding to it a refreshing depth although the old housekeeper probably could have been drawn better.

The story is vintage and being set in an exotic background can be somewhat hard to relate with while bringing a sweetly unique flavor to this book. Otherwise Elizabeth's superb writing talent, her beautiful prose and emotional talent in weaving her masterpiece shows why this book has show more been a lasting story for mostly any people who have gotten a chance to read it.

What makes this book special to me is the fact that even though the religion isn't Christian it searches rather sweetly the concepts of sacrifice, love and compassion while making you question your own limits. Would you love so fiercely like the tiger that you would be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice? Are you able to open yourself to making others happy even if it could mean the loss of everything? And is there such a thing as never being able to forgive? Of having to always live under the same stereotypes since of what someone else has done?

And to make the story so much sweeter you have the additional stories of Buddha that adds a bit of flavor while examining these moral trials. Altogether it's an unforgettable introduction to a little known world that still faces the roughest questions that we ask ourselves..... show less

This story was a lovely little folk tale that reminded me of all the best of the Newbery books. A young man has been commissioned by the temple to paint a picture of Buddha as he blesses the animals. He slowly adds animals, telling the tale and the strength of each. Then the artist comes to the cat, an animal which had, by tradition, rejected the Buddha and thus was excluded from heaven. But it is the artist's cat that has inspired him in his work and the artist knows it is the cat's greatest wish to be included in the painting. At last, the artist makes the difficult decision to include the cat in the painting. The ending is surprising and lovely.

A bit of a morality play about Buddhism, but sweetly and serenely told in just 57 pages with black and white paintings of animals interspersed. There are only three characters - the artist, the housekeeper, and the cat "Good Fortune". After the cat arrives, the Japanese artist is commissioned to paint the death of the Buddha. He reflects on the Buddha's life, and the lives of the animals his spirit inhabited or who helped him on his journeys and on the legend of the cat - the only animal not to enter heaven because of her own independence. There are interesting discussions out there about gender roles in the story, but as a story of the time, the culture and the Buddha, it is quite well done and a nice easy read that might still be show more appreciated by children today - especially those who are fond of the cat. show less