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Tiger had been right down at the bottom of the garden, stalking a blackbird. It had been cheeky enough to flutter down on to the grass right in front of him. The kitten had been so surprised he almost fell over his own paws but as soon as he realized what was happening, he sank into a hunting crouch. He had seen birds hopping about in the bushes before but never one so close up. He inched forwards, hardly breathing, creeping nearer and nearer. Then, all of a sudden, the bird spotted him and shot into the air with a frantic beating of wings. Tiger dived after it but the bird was too fast. It was gone before he landed, up into the scrubby lilac that grew against the wall.

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Tiger scrambled after the bird, and it squawked furiously at him and fluttered away over the wall.

He looked up as it flew off, with his ears laid back. He had been so close. Tiger clambered the rest of the way up the lilac, on to the wall, but the bird had disappeared. Then he gazed around curiously. He had never climbed on to the top of the wall before. He was high up enough to see all along the garden– and into next-door’s garden. A whole new place to explore!

He paced along the bricks, wondering if there were any other cats down there. A huge white cat had appeared in his own garden a couple of days before and hissed at him as though he wasn’t meant to be there. He had been furious and scared all at the same time. But then Bel and Ava had come outside and started shouting, and the white cat had dashed away.

The new garden seemed quite still, so he sprang down on to the grass and began to wander about, sniffing curiously at the plants. He was just investigating the tiny pond next to the patio when there was a sudden bang, followed by an ear-splitting series of barks.

Charlie and Max came shooting out of their dog flap, barking so loudly that Tiger just froze. He stood perched at the edge of the pond, trembling in fright.

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Tiger had seen the dogs before, out of the window– he’d even heard Charlie and Max when he was in his own garden. But he hadn’t known they lived here! He hadn’t realized that this garden belonged to them.

Terrified, Tiger ran at last, racing towards the gate.

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“Ava, are you all right?” Grandma Shirley called up the stairs.

“I can’t find Tiger!” she said, dashing down to Gran. “And the dogs next door, they’re barking like mad. Do you think Tiger could have got into their garden?”

Gran looked doubtful.“Surely not … with that big wall? But then, cats really are amazing climbers…”

“I know. I have to check, Gran, but I can’t see over the wall from the back windows, I’ve tried.”

Ava hurried out into the garden and looked up at the wall helplessly. She’d never be able to see over it. It was more than two metres tall. Ava drew in a deep breath – the wall was just too big. Tiger couldn’t have jumped on top of it, could he? But then, he’d managed to jump on to her bedroom door… He might have managed it if he’d jumped on to something else first. She had to make sure.

“Gran, can you hold on to this chair for me?” Ava asked, pushing one of the garden chairs up against the wall. “I need to look over the top.”

She stepped up on to the chair.“Oh no. That’s no use – it’s not tall enough.” She was still a long way from seeing into next-door’s garden.

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“Oh, Ava, be careful,” Gran gasped as she jumped down. “I don’t want to ring your mum and dad and tell them I’ve had to take you to hospital with a broken leg!”

“I am being careful, Gran, I promise. But I have to see if Tiger is there…” Ava shuddered. “Charlie and Max are nice dogs, Gran, but listen to them. They sound so fierce. Look, do you think you can help me push the table up against the wall? I can get on the chair, then the table and then Ithink I’ll be able to see over the top.”

Gran sighed.“I suppose there’s not much else we can do. I’m so sorry, Ava, I really don’t think I can climb up there.”

“I’ll be fine, Gran, honest. Here, just push this for me.” Ava grabbed the edge of the metal table, dragging it towards the wall. “It’s coming!” With Ava pulling and Gran pushing, the table bumped and juddered up against the wall.

“Why are you in the garden?” Bel was standing at the back door, with Lucy peeping round her.

“Oh! Go back inside, you two!” Gran sounded harassed.

“What are you doing?” Bel’s bottom lip stuck out. She was going to cry, Ava realized.

“They won’t go back in,” Ava told Gran. “Not without having a real meltdown. We have to tell them what’s going on.” She turned to Lucy and Bel. “The dogs are barking a lot and I can’t find Tiger. I think he might be in Megan’s garden.”

Bel stared at Ava, her eyes round with horror.“But they might eat him!”

“Tiger!” Lucy wailed. “I want Tiger!”

“I do, too,” Ava said, stepping up on to the chair. “So that’s why I’m climbing up here. Now, you have to be good and not cry.”