Official Poetry Submission Rules

Who Can Submit
Submissions are open to individuals 18 years of age or older. No purchase or preorder is necessary to submit a poem or be selected.

What We're Looking For
We invite you to submit an original poem inspired by cats, nature, healing, herbs, or the connection between them. Poems may be up to 300 words in length.

Original Work Only
Your submission must be your own original work. By submitting, you confirm that you are the sole author of the poem and that it does not infringe upon the copyright or other rights of another person. Poems created in whole or in substantial part by generative AI are not eligible for submission.

One Submission Per Person
Please submit only one poem per person. Once submitted, entries cannot be revised or replaced.

Submission Deadline
All poems must be received by SEPTEMBER 30th, 2026 at 11:59pm Pacific Time. Late submissions will not be considered.

Selection
Submissions will be reviewed by representatives of The Herbal Cat. One poem is expected to be selected for inclusion in the opening pages of The Herbal Cat. Selection is based on the editorial team's judgment and is final. Submission does not guarantee publication.

If Your Poem Is Selected
The selected poet will be contacted privately at the email address provided with their submission. The poet may be required to sign the publisher's applicable permission, license, release, or publication agreement before the poem can be included in the book. If the required agreement is not completed by the requested deadline, another poem may be selected.

Rights to Your Work
You retain ownership of your poem when you submit it. Submission gives The Herbal Cat team permission to review your poem for consideration. No publication rights are transferred simply by entering. If your poem is selected, any rights necessary to reproduce and publish it in The Herbal Cat and related editions or materials will be addressed in the publisher's written agreement with you before publication.

Credit
The selected poet will receive a byline/credit in the published book in the form approved by the publisher.

Public Announcement
The selected poet will be notified privately. The Herbal Cat team may choose to keep the identity of the selected poet and the selected poem confidential until a later public reveal or publication of the book. The selected poet may be asked not to publicly announce their selection until authorized to do so.

Additional Terms
The Herbal Cat team reserves the right to reject submissions that do not meet these guidelines, to modify or cancel the submission opportunity if necessary, or to choose no poem if no submission is deemed appropriate for publication. By submitting a poem, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to these Official Poetry Submission Rules.