Felix the Fluffy Kitten and Other Kitten Tales

“I hope Poppy’s all right,” Tom muttered to himself as his mum marched across the farmyard towards the kitchen.

The kitchen door opened and Mrs Morgan stomped into the house.

“Hi Mum,” said Tom warily.

“Where’s that cat?” replied Mrs Morgan.

“She’s not a cat, Mum, she’s only a kitten,” said Tom. He went over to the cat basket where Nell was fast asleep.

“And she’s too young to understand about pigs,” said Hattie, coming into the kitchen.

“And she’s usually really good, isn’t she, Tom?” added Jo.

“Yes, she is,” said Tom. “She’s just not used to being on a farm yet, that’s all, Mum.”

Mrs Morgan pulled off her boots and flopped down at the kitchen table. She looked tired. “Put the kettle on, Tom love,” she said.

Tom filled the kettle with water and plugged it in.

Mrs Morgan wriggled her toes and put her feet up on a chair.

“Well,” she said, “I know Nell is only a kitten but she’s come here to be a farm cat.”

“I know, Mum,” said Tom.

His mum carried on, “That means not jumping in the animal feed. And not pulling straw out of the bales. And not chasing the ducks and pouncing on the animals. Especially the pigs. And especially Poppy.”

“I know, Mum,” Tom said again. “Nell will learn to be a good farm cat. I’m sure she will,” he added, crossing his fingers for luck.

The kettle boiled and Mrs Morgan got up to make herself a cup of tea. She poured out some orange juice for Tom, Hattie and Jo and then sat down again, looking worried. “The thing is, I don’t want Nell to upset Poppy again,” she said. “Poppy is due to have her piglets next week, and if she’s upset, she may not look after them properly.”

Tom’s heart thumped hard. Was his mum hinting that Nell might have to leave the farm? He had to think fast. “We could keep her inside until Poppy has had her piglets,” he suggested. “She could stay in my bedroom. I’d make sure she stayed in – honestly Mum! And I’d feed her and empty her litter tray and look after her and—”

“All right,” laughed Mrs Morgan. “You can keep Nell in your room until Poppy has had her piglets, OK?”

“Thanks, Mum!” Tom grinned. It would be great to have Nell sleep in his room. He often crept down to the kitchen at night to see if she was all right.

Tom picked up the cat basket and carefully carried it upstairs.

Nell stirred and gave a little miaow. In her dreams she was flying through the air.

Tom had just reached his bedroom door when Hattie bounded up behind him.

“It’s not fair you having Nell,” Hattie said, grabbing the basket.

“We want to have her too,” said Jo, coming up behind Hattie.

“Well, Mum said she could go in my room,” said Tom, trying to grab the basket back.

“No, in ours,” his sisters hissed.

“Mine!”

“Ours!” Hattie tugged the basket and Nell tumbled onto the floor. She woke up with a start and shot off into Tom’s room and hid under his bed.

“See. She likes my room the best anyway,” said Tom.

“No she doesn’t!” said Hattie crossly, still holding the basket.

“You just scared her, that’s all,” said Jo.

“Didn’t.”

“Did.”

“Stop it, you three!” Mrs Morgan yelled up the stairs. “Tom, are you looking after that kitten?”

“Yes, Mum!” yelled Tom.

“Good!” shouted Mrs Morgan.

Hattie pushed the basket back at Tom and stuck her tongue out.

Tom crossed his eyes and if he hadn’t been holding the basket he would have stuck his fingers up his nose too. He waited until Hattie and Jo had clumped off downstairs and then he went into his room and closed the door.

He scooped Nell out from under his bed, brushed some fluff off her nose and cuddled her tightly. “You’ve got to be good from now on, Nell,” he said.

“Miaow,” replied Nell.

“I mean it,” said Tom, trying to be stern again but not doing very well.

Nell saw Tom was smiling and licked his hand. She liked being in Tom’s room. She snuggled down and went back to sleep.

Chapter Two

When Tom woke up the next morning he found Nell curled up on the pillow beside him. Suddenly there was a hammering on the door and Hattie and Jo burst into the room.

Tom sat up with a start and Nell hid under the duvet.

“There are ten of them!” shouted Hattie, dancing round the room.

“And they’re so sweet!” yelled Jo as she leapt onto Tom’s bed.

And they’re so loud! thought Nell. She poked her nose out from under the duvet and sniffed. There was a smell around Jo and Hattie that reminded her of something. It reminded her of . . . PIG. Nell sneezed.

“Phew,” said Tom to Hattie and Jo, “You both smell of . . .”

“Piglets!” said Jo.

“Piglets?” asked Tom. ‘You mean Poppy’s had her . . .”

“Piglets!” Hattie and Jo squealed like a couple of big piglets themselves. They rushed out of the bedroom and slammed the door behind them.

Tom sighed and snuggled back down in bed. Sometimes his sisters were so noisy he wished he had earplugs, or a soundproof bedroom, or even better, a sisterproof bedroom.