WHEN I TRY TO PICTURE my husband entering Heaven, I imagine him surrounded by lots of family members and friends who’ve gone before as they greet him and welcome him to his new home. Occasionally, I also wonder if among the crowd there might be a rambunctious Akita, a fluffy, tail wagging Peek-a-poo, a white cat with the shape of a heart on his side, and 4 or 5 other kitties brushing against his leg.  Will our pets be in Heaven? In reading books on Heaven recently, I’ve seen that it’s a common question others ask as well.

In her new book, Reflections of Hope about Cats and Eternity, author Allia Zobel Nolan, gives us her perspective on the question. And she believes that, yes, they will be there – especially cats. So it was fun asking Allia about what she’s found on the subject.

Linda: You’re known for humorous books about cats, and Bible books for children.  So this is an interesting detour for you. What prompted you to tackle a book about cats and eternity?

Allia: I lost three cats in a row. So, naturally, I was devastated. I looked for some kind of book that might help me—a devotional, or some sort of prayer book. But most of what I found had stories of other people’s journeys with sick and dying cats. And at that point, I just really needed something a bit more comforting, uplifting. A book that would sooth me and give me hope.  So, since I couldn’t find it; I wrote it myself.

Linda: I can certainly relate to that. Writing a book that meets your own felt need is a great motivator for writing a book. What kind of research did you do and how did you decide upon the format?

Allia:   I knew I wanted this to be a gift book… as it’s the kind of book you underline and refer back to again and again. Still, although the subject is heavy, I didn’t want it to be all doom and gloom. I wanted this book to offer hope and expectation for all cat lovers. The whole purpose of the book is to posit the idea that the cats we share our lives with here on earth may very well be with us in eternity.

So I searched Scripture, and the writings of religious experts and theologians, such as C. S. Lewis, George MacDonald, the Pope, John Wesley, and others.  And I found quite a few of them had similar thoughts to mine. So I chose a couple of their hopeful affirmations and married them with soft, comforting, and sometimes humorous, but ever-so-relatable photos and included them, along with my own opinions throughout the book.  Heavenly Headbutts also contains sections of Scripture that, to my mind’s eye, back up and support the reasons why I believe we’ll see our beloved fur babies in Heaven.

Linda: I’ve seen a couple of your adorable cat pictures, and I’m sharing one here. Are there photos throughout this book about cats and eternity? How is the book laid out with photos and text?

Allia: Well, after the manuscript was finished, I started to think about art. I decided today’s world is so attuned to photos, that I would use photos instead of having it illustrated by an artist. However, although I could find some photos that depicted what I had written, for example, the section on the Creation, that was the exception. I couldn’t find photos that specifically explained the text.  Also, the composition, photo styles, and lighting in the photos weren’t consistent. It wasn’t flowing and didn’t look right.

I took a step back at that point and determined that whatever I had written or quoted was about one thing: cats. So I really didn’t need to illustrate each section to the letter. I just needed to find a complimentary cat photo that would convey the meaning of what I was writing. So that’s what I did, and it all came together.  Then my friend and designer at Marypat Design interspersed the photos, the quotes, and the longer sections in a really loving and soothing way. She did an outstanding job.

Linda: Could you share with us a couple of quotes you found from notable Christian leaders that back you up on your theory that animals and even our pets might be in Heaven?

Allia: As for animals being in Heaven, Hank Hanegraff, the Bible Answer Man, asserts, “The Garden of Eden was populated by animals, thus there is a precedent for believing that Eden restored will be populated by animals.”

In terms of our pets being in Heaven, George MacDonald wrote: “What lovelier feature in the newness of the new earth, than the old animals glorified with us–in their home with us–their common home–the house of our Father–each kind an unfailing pleasure to the other. Ah, what horses. Ah, what dogs. Ah, what wild beasts and birds of the air. (Ah, what cats…my paraphrase). The whole redeemed creation goes to make up St. Paul’s Heaven.”

What’s more, Martin Luther says: “In Paradise, there was complete harmony between man and animals; one day that harmony will be restored, and all creation will be made anew.

Linda:  How long did it take you to put the book together?

Allia: Well, I had the idea for a book like this a while ago. Before I lost my cats. My agent shopped it around then. But some publishers are on the fence about the question of pets in heaven. And I acknowledge their belief; I just don’t agree. So, I put it away and took it out in earnest when my cats passed.

Linda:    Is Heavenly Headbutts only for people who’ve lost cats? Or is it for any cat lover?

Allia: I get this question quite a bit. Obviously, I wrote Heavenly Headbutts to comfort cat lovers who are grieving. But it’s also a book that’s helpful for anyone who is interested in learning more about the topic of cats and heaven.

Lovers of all kinds of pets will experience the passing of their fur baby at one time or another, and some will go through the process many times. So Heavenly Headbutts is meant to lay out what I found from my research of theologians and religious experts, as well as include my thoughts about it. And leave it to the reader to judge.

The book is also a way for anyone close to a person who has lost a cat to show their condolences by gifting the book to them.

Linda; What do you hope readers will get out of this book?

Allia:  For the grieving, I hope it offers comfort, hope, and expectation that they may very well be reunited with their fur babies in one form or another in the future.

I also hope it helps them step out of their grief—even for just a minute—as   they pause to meditate on God, the afterlife,  the Scriptures, and their own beliefs.  As I mentioned, the book is not all sad reflection. Parts make you think, laugh, and learn, and are especially relatable to anyone who has ever lived with a cat

Lnda: Can you give some of the reasons you feel we’ll be reunited with our cats in eternity? And are there any scriptures that you can share? 

Allia: Well, there are no specific Scripture references that state equivocally: “You will meet up with your beloved cats in heaven.” However, a close reading of the
messages in the Bible, to my way of thinking, lead me to believe our cats’ story is not over—that they will be with us in heaven..

Here are a few things that made me form my opinion about cats and eternity:

1. First of all there’s this scripture: “God’s plan for the world stands up, all his designs are made to last.” (Psalm 33:11 MSG.)
2. God made animals first, so he must have had a plan for them.
3. When God looked around after the creation, he said everything was “Good.” Not just 2-legged creatures were good, but everything was good. And God doesn’t change his mind.
4. God told Adam to name the animals….I don’t believe he would have bothered if the animals were, indeed, temporary.
5. God used animals for his purpose and as examples in stories in the Old Testament and New Testament, ants, birds, big fish, raven, talking donkey, fish with a coin, lost lamb, etc. So to my way of thinking, he was not going to use them then let just them evaporate into nothingness.
6. God saved animals during the flood.
7. Jesus was born in a stable surrounded by animals.
8. Revelation reports animals in the throne room.

Linda: After all your research, can you equivocally say, “Yes, we will see our cats in heaven?”

Allia: Well, that’s something that will be a personal choice for people to make
after they read the book. My vote is a resounding YES.  But I’m not forcing my opinion on others. I’m not proselytizing. I’m presenting the evidence I found, (info people might not be familiar with) as well as my own thoughts.

Linda: Where can readers get Heavenly Headbutts: Reflections of Hope about Cats and Eternity?

Allia: Readers can purchase the book on Amazon where it is in print and on Kindle. Readers might also be interested in knowing  Heavenly Headbutts has received several major awards, including a Writer’s Digest Award for Self-Published Books in the category of Inspirational.

https://www.amazon.com/Heavenly-Headbutts-Reflections-about-Eternity/dp/B0BQY1N93Q

Linda: That’s wonderful. Congratulations. Do you have a current book project.

Allia: Yes, I have a children’s book from Kregel Children’s that is due out in August 2024, entitled Harriet Hurry-Up and the Oh-So-Slow Day. It’s about a little girl who can’t understand why days don’t move faster. But with her Gran’s help, this impatient little girl learns to trust God’s timing and find the blessings he puts in every day—if she can just slow down long enough to see them. It will be available for back-to-school reading anywhere that sells books.  For more information on my books, check my website: www.AlliaWrites.com