Felix the Fluffy Kitten and Other Kitten Tales

“He’s a natural,” Mr Tomkins went on. “With Felix showing off the Wizard, we’ll sell thousands!”

“Oh, wow!” Jodie cried. She picked up Felix and hugged him. “You’re going to be famous!” she whispered.

Felix rubbed his head against Jodie’s neck. “Great!” he purred. “I’ve always wanted to be a superkitten.”

“I can see the posters now,” Mr Tomkins said, rubbing his hands together happily. “They’ll say: Buy a Wizard – the ultimate fluffbuster!”

“Or how about: So quiet it won’t even frighten a kitten!” Miss Spark added.

“Very good, Miss Spark!” Mr Tomkins boomed.

“And: So light even a kitten can push it!” Mr Pearce offered. “If you don’t mind me joining in,” he added, going a bit red.

“Thank you, Mr Pearce! Another excellent suggestion!” cried Mr Tomkins. Then he turned to Jodie’s mum. “We’ll pay a fee, of course. And the ‘Wizard Kitten’ must have a Wizard for his own home. We’ll leave this one for you, shall we?”

Jodie and her mum stood there, too astounded to speak. Felix gave a short miaow. “Say yes!” He wanted to be a superkitten. He wanted to be famous – and he wanted it now!

One evening, a few weeks later, Jodie and her mum and dad were all sitting in front of the television. Felix was sitting on Jodie’s lap. He was quite a bit bigger, but still very fluffy.

“Mr Tomkins said it would be on at five-thirty,” Jodie said. She looked at her watch. “It’s nearly that now.”

“I only make it twenty-five past,” Mr Taylor said.

Felix looked up at Jodie, his bright blue eyes puzzled. Why was everyone so excited? Even Jodie’s dad had come home from work early

“Have we got the video set?” Mrs Taylor asked.

Just then there was a noise outside in the hall and a cheerful woman put her head around the door. It was Mrs Bell.

Felix turned round and miaowed. “Hello, Mrs Bell.” He liked Mrs Bell. Ever since Mr Tomkins had paid a lot of money for Felix’s kitten modelling, Mrs Bell had been coming here to do all the cleaning.

“I’ve finished cleaning upstairs,” Mrs Bell said. “Do you want me to do in here now?”

“Oh, Mrs Bell,” said Jodie’s mum, smiling. “Come and watch the advertisement first! It should be on any min—”

She was interrupted by a scream from Jodie. “Here he is! Oh, look, Felix, there you are!”

Jodie held Felix up in front of the television and he saw himself sitting proudly on a Wizard as it was put through its paces.

“Solve even the fluffiest problem with the aid of your Wizard!” said a voice on the TV. “Cleans your home like magic!”

“Don’t you look gorgeous!” Jodie cried.

“Purreow!” said Felix. He jumped down and sat as close to the TV as he could, staring up at himself. “Yes, I do look pretty good . . .”

As the advertisement ended, everyone sighed with pride. Then Felix gave a tiny sneeze and shook himself, sending a shower of fluffy grey fur into the air.

Jodie laughed. “You can do that as much as you like, Felix,” she said. “Because now you’re getting paid for it!”

Snuggles

the Sleepy Kitten

Special thanks to Narinder Dhami

To Vicky’s Tigger

Chapter One

Super-Snuggles the Wonder Cat stood very still. His back was arched, and the tip of his tail waved slowly from side to side. Timmy, the biggest fiercest tomcat in town, was walking towards him.

Super-Snuggles stared the ginger tom right in the eyes. One of them would have to move out of the way. Who would it be?

Timmy got closer. And closer . . .

But Super-Snuggles stood his ground. It was about time Timmy treated Super-Snuggles the Wonder Cat with a bit of respect!

“Morning, Super-Snuggles,” Timmy miaowed politely. He stepped quickly around the other cat. “And how are you today?”

“Fine,” Super-Snuggles purred. “Just fine!”

“Snuggles . . .”

The voice was coming from a long way off.

“Snuggles!”

Snuggles, the tabby kitten, opened one blue eye. His owner, Mr Chapman, was stroking his back.

“Goodness, Snuggles, you’ve been asleep for hours!” Mr Chapman said. “I was beginning to get worried about you.”

“I’m OK, Mr Chapman,” Snuggles purred. He yawned and stretched, then rubbed his face against Mr Chapman’s cardigan. “In fact, I was having a brilliant dream!”

Snuggles loved curling up on Mr Chapman’s comfy lap and going to sleep. In his dreams he became Super-Snuggles the Wonder Cat . . .

Super-Snuggles could jump high and run fast. All the other cats in town wanted to be like him. And all the dogs were scared of him. Super-Snuggles could do anything! He could do all the things that Snuggles the kitten was too scared to do.

But Snuggles knew that Mr Chapman worried about him, because he slept so much.

“I can’t become Super-Snuggles the Wonder Cat unless I’m asleep!” Snuggles purred, looking up into his owner’s kind old face. “I wish I could make you understand.”