'Oh! How adorable! I didn't know you had a cat!' she exclaimed. I am always surprised how many people make this observation. Why should His Holiness not have a cat? 'If only she could speak,' continued the actress. 'I'm sure she'd have such wisdom to share.' And so the seed was planted...

I began to think that perhaps the time had come for me to write a book of my own-a book that would convey some of the wisdom I've learned sitting not at the feet of the Dalai Lama but even closer, on his lap. A book that would tell my own tale...how I was rescued from a fate too grisly to contemplate to become the constant companion of a man who is not only one of the world's greatest spiritual leaders and a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate but also a dab hand with a can opener."

Starving and pitiful, a mud-smeared kitten is rescued from the slums of New Delhi and transported to a life she could have never imagined. In a beautiful sanctuary overlooking the snow-capped Himalayas, she begins her new life as the Dalai Lama's cat.

Warmhearted, irreverent, and wise, this cat of many names opens a window to the inner sanctum of life in Dharamsala. A tiny spy observing the constant flow of private meetings between His Holiness and everyone from Hollywood celebrities to philanthropists to self-help authors, the Dalai Lama's cat provides us with insights on how to find happiness and meaning in a busy, materialistic world. Her story will put a smile on the face of anyone who has been blessed by the kneading paws and bountiful purring of a cat.

The Dalai Lama's Cat, David Michie, Hay House Visions, Paperback, 240 pages, $15.99

David Michie is the internationally best-selling author of a number of books about mindfulness, meditation and Buddhism. These include the non-fiction titles Why Mindfulness is Better than Chocolate, Hurry Up and Meditate, and Buddhism for Busy People, as well as his popular novel series The Dalai Lama's Cat. His books are available in 25 languages in over 40 different countries.