Holli Vebb - The Kidnapped Kitten

For Lizzie

www.hollywebbanimalstories.com

CONTENTS

Title Page

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

About the Author

Copyright

Laura! Laura! Tia waved, as she rushed down their street on the way home from school.

Her neighbour stood up and waved back. Laura was planting something in her front garden and her beautiful cat, Charlie, was sitting next to her, staring suspiciously at the turned-over earth.

Tia ran up and leaned over the wall, and her little sister, Christy, followed, panting, You went too fast for me!

Sorry, said Tia, taking her sisters hand. Laura, guess what?

Laura smiled. What? Something good, it sounds like.

Tia nodded. The best. Mum and Dad say we can have a cat!

Christy did a twirly dance. A cat! A cat! she sang.

Oh, thats so exciting. Laura beamed at them. Youll be brilliant cat owners. You were great when you came with your mum to feed Charlie while I was away. He looked quite grumpy when I got back I dont think I was fussing over him as much as you two were. She looked up in surprise as Charlie suddenly pounced on the pile of earth. Oh, Charlie! Stop it! You dont want it, you silly cat.

What is it? Tia tried to see what Charlie was patting at with his paw.

A worm. No, dont eat it! Euurrgh! Laura picked up Charlie and dusted the soil off his paws, and the worm made a quick getaway.

He eats worms? Christy peered over the wall at Charlie.

Laura grinned. He eats everything. Especially things that wriggle. Bengals are a bit like that. Really nosy.

Charlies a special breed of cat then? Tia asked thoughtfully. Ive never seen another cat that looks quite like him. Hes like a leopard.

Exactly. Laura nodded and put Charlie on top of the wall so the girls could admire him. He sat down with his tail wrapped around his paws and his nose in the air, posing. Bengals are bred from leopard cats little wild cats that live in Asia. Leopard cats are spotty like big leopards. But you can get Bengals with swirly stripes as well.

Tia reached out her hand to Charlie and made kissy noises at him.

Charlie gazed back at her. He had his eyes half-closed, which made him look very snooty, but Tia thought it was actually because he was a bit embarrassed about not being allowed to eat worms.

He eyed her thoughtfully for a few more seconds, then stood up and stepped delicately along the wall to allow her to stroke him.

Youre the nicest cat ever, Tia murmured. She glanced up at Laura. You know, his furs almost sparkly when you look at him in the sunshine.

Its called glitter. Laura nodded. Lots of Bengal cats have it. She rubbed Charlies ears. Its actually because some of his fur is see-through, but it looks like hes covered in gold dust. Hes a precious boy.

Hi, Laura! I hope the girls arent bothering you. Tia and Christys mum hurried up.

No, its fine. They were just telling me their exciting news. Laura smiled. If you get a cat, then they can both sit in our front windows and stare at each other!

Tia giggled, imagining it. Lauras house was just across the road from theirs, so the two cats really would be able to see each other. Charlie liked to sit on the windowsill and look out. Tia always waved at him on her way past.

Tia ran her hand down Charlies satiny back again. Mum! Could we have a cat like Charlie?

Her mum reached out to scratch Charlie under the chin. Im sorry, Tia, but I dont think so. Charlies beautiful, but hes a pedigree cat. He must have been really expensive. She glanced at Laura, looking a bit embarrassed. Sorry!

Laura made a face. No, dont worry. He was expensive. But Id wanted a Bengal cat for ages. I just loved the way they looked, and Id read about what funny characters they are. So I saved up for him.

Well probably go to the Cats Protection League and see if they have any kittens available, Tias mum explained to Laura. Even though you are gorgeous, arent you? She made coaxing noises at Charlie, and he did his superior face back again.

Lucy got Mittens from the Cats Protection League. Lucys my best friend from school, Tia put in. Shes got a really cute black and white cat, with little white mittens on the fronts of her paws. Its all right, Mittens isnt as beautiful as you, she added to Charlie, who was looking outraged. Sometimes I think he understands everything we say, she told Laura.

Thats the thing with Bengals, Laura said. Theyre very clever. Lots of them have tricks, like opening doors Charlie can do that. But it means they can be quite difficult to look after. When they get bored, they can be naughty. I wouldnt be able to have Charlie if I didnt work at home. Hed be lonely if I was out all day.

Cats need company, Tias mum agreed. But I only work afternoons, so we should be all right. Tias mum worked part-time in the office at Tia and Christys school. Anyway, we should leave you in peace. Come on, girls.

Bye, Charlie. Tia gave him one last loving stroke. See you tomorrow on the way to school!

You dont mind that we cant have a cat like Charlie? her mum asked, as she unlocked the front door.

Tia turned round and hugged her.

No! I just want a cat of our own, thats all. Maybe a black and white cat, like Lucys? Will we be able to choose between lots of cats?

Im not sure her mum said. Ill have to call the Cats Protection League. Lucys mum was telling me about Mittens, and I think she came from a lady who just had a few kittens living in her house. I dont think the Cats Protection League has one big shelter.

Thats probably nicer for the cats, Tia pointed out, as she took off her shoes.

Whens our cat coming? Christy asked. Christy was only four, and she didnt really understand about the time things took.

In a little while, I promise, Mum said, and Tia gave a little sigh of happiness. Hopefully they wouldnt have to wait too long

Tia! Tia!

They were on their way to school, and Tia had been daydreaming about what sort of cat they might get. She jumped when Laura shouted after her.

Laura was at her front door, with Charlie weaving himself possessively around her ankles. Oh, Im glad I caught you! Is your mum around?

Shes a bit further up the road, chasing after Christy, Tia explained.

I dont want to make you late for school, but I really wanted to let you know

Tia stared at Laura, not really sure what she was talking about.

Sorry! Ill start at the beginning. The lady who bred Charlie called me last night Id sent her a photo of him, and she was ringing to say thank you. And she mentioned shes got a Bengal kitten for sale!

But we cant Tia started to say. Mum was right. They really couldnt afford a pedigree cat.

Oh, I know, but thats the thing. This kitten wont be very expensive. Shes got a bent tail. Shes still gorgeous, but its whats called a fault. It means she cant be in a cat show, and no one would want her to have kittens, as they might have bent tails too. So I thought Id tell you, just in case you want to go and see her. I expect lots of people will be keen to buy her sometimes people wait ages for a Bengal kitten. I wrote it all down for you. Laura darted back into the house and returned with a scrap of paper. Here, give this to your mum. Its the breeders phone number.

Tia looked down at the piece of paper. Glimmershine Bengals, it said, Helen Mason, and a phone number. But somehow, for Tia, the scribbly writing seemed to say, Your very own kitten

Are we sure about getting a Bengal kitten? Dad asked, looking at the Glimmershine website. Tia had found it for him on his phone, so he could read it while he ate his toast. It says here about them being