Kids' Book Club

Oscar liked being an only cat. So he was far from delighted when Saffie, his smallest human, came into the kitchen one day holding a small black and white kitten.

“Oscar, this is Henry,” Saffie announced, cradling the kitten in her arms. “Isn’t he cute? But he’s still very little so you must be very careful with him.” She tickled the kitten under his chin saying, “This is Oscar. He’s our BigCat.”

Oscar let out a low growl. BigCat? What was she talking about? Oscar had always taken pride in being a sleek, athletic cat who, even in old age, had remained light enough to jump over fences with ease – until arthritis had set in.

“Look what else we got at the pet shop, Oscar,” Saffie said, placing a new toy mouse down beside him. The toy had a smell that made Oscar’s nose twitch – catnip!

Oscar had a wonderful time batting the toy mouse about, in between chewing on it, while an eager-looking Henry looked on. Only when Oscar paused to give his front paw a lick did Henry dart forward to give the mouse a swipe. Quick as a flash, Oscar lifted his paw and gave the kitten a biff on the nose. As Henry hid under the sofa, Oscar picked up his new toy between his teeth and carried it back to his basket.

Over the next few days Henry often tried to play with Oscar, but Oscar always turned his back.

Saffie was upset. “I thought they’d be friends,” she said to her mum.

“Don’t worry,” her mum kept saying. “They just need time to get used to each other, that’s all.”

As far as Oscar was concerned, the new kitten was nothing but a nuisance. As the days went by he found more and more of his favourite spots in the house being claimed by Henry. Saffie’s lap was one of them. Another was the laundry basket when it was piled up with warm freshly ironed clothes. And then there was Oscar’s favourite spot of all – the lovely soft cushiony bit at the top of Saffie’s bed.

One afternoon when Saffie and her mum had taken Henry to get his jabs at the vet’s, Oscar decided to remind Saffie which cat had been there first.

As soon as Saffie got home and went up to her room she let out a loud shriek. “Mum – Oscar’s done a poo on my pillow!”

Saffie’s mum rushed upstairs without seeing Bruiser, the huge cat from next door, poking his big ginger head in through the cat flap.

Oscar arrived in the kitchen just in time to see Bruiser grab the catnip mouse and make off with it. But the cat flap no longer opened outwards because of Henry having to be kept indoors, and Bruiser let out a loud yowl as he bashed his head. Oscar watched in delight as Bruiser hurled himself at the locked flap a second time, but on that attempt it gave way to let him through.

Hissing furiously, Oscar shot out into the garden after Bruiser, chasing him as far as the fence. But his stiff back and hips meant he was forced to remain at the bottom while Bruiser perched on top with the mouse between his jaws, looking down at him tauntingly.

Suddenly a small ball of black and white fur came flying across the grass towards them.

“Careful, Henry!” Oscar miaowed as the excited kitten scrambled up the fence and ripped the toy from Bruiser’s mouth.

Bruiser was so shocked at being ambushed by such a small kitten that he was temporarily frozen to the fence.

Henry raced back to the house, purring proudly as he dropped the toy mouse back into Oscar’s basket.

“Well done, Henry,” Oscar miaowed as he joined him in the kitchen. “But you must be careful in future when you go outside. Would you like me to show you around and teach you what’s what?”

“Oh, yes, please,” Henry mewed.

“Good. We’ll start your first lesson after our afternoon nap.” Oscar was already settling down in his basket.

“Okay. I’ll go upstairs and lie on Saffie’s bed.” 

Oscar sat up again immediately. “Why don’t you sleep here with me? There’s plenty of room.”

“Really?” Henry was excited as he jumped in to the cat basket for the first time and snuggled up happily against the older cat.

“Besides,” Oscar added. “Saffie’s bed is only for BigCats.”

“Is it?” Henry exclaimed. “I didn’t know!”

“Don’t worry - you’ve got me to teach you now,” Oscar replied, and he gave the kitten a big-brotherly lick before closing his eyes.