The Cat Who Taught Zen by James Norbury

This is the tale of a cat who longed for peace, acceptance, and a way to make sense of the world. One day he hears of a solitary ancient pine, deep in the maple forests that shroud the valley, under the boughs of which infinite wisdom can be found. So begins a journey of discovery, and along the way he meets a vivid cast of animals, from a curious hare to a chattering monkey, a tiresome tortoise to a terrifying tiger, each with their own stories to tell. But it is only through a surprise encounter with a playful kitten that he realizes the journey has never been about a tree.