Mrs Fowler had several cats. Winnie was a striped grey cat born to Kitty and Hector, two of Mrs Fowler’s cats. She kept them very well. They all behaved beautifully and never made a nuisance of themselves. Winnie was different.
If there was any trouble possible, Winnie would definitely get into it. Her parents tried to teach her to be a good mouser. But Winnie had other plans. She chased butterflies, birds and squirrels in the garden and made life miserable and hard for all of them.
She would tease all the other cats in the house, pulling their tails and ears. She pestered the neighbour’s puppy, Trevor. He would chase her all over the neighbourhood while she led him on a fine wild-goose chase. She would make him run till the poor fellow was exhausted.
One day, Winnie got into Mrs Fowler’s small car. There were several scratches and tears in the seat by the time Mrs Fowler found her.
Near the house was a pool of water formed by rain. Several frogs lived there and Winnie thought it was great fun to chase them as they hopped around. She would take swipes at them with her paw and they would leap from the bank into the pool with a splash.
The frogs were fed up of Winnie but there was nothing they could do. But Trevor had a bright idea one morning. He waited till Winnie began her game of swiping at the frogs. Then, without warning, he ran out of a bush where he had been hiding and gave Winnie a shove.
Winnie lost her balance and SPLASH! She went into the water. The frogs also got a fright and jumped right out of the water. Winnie saw Trevor rushing towards her and ran for her life.
Spluttering and meowing Winnie came up with a leaf on her head and weeds trailing off her. She had never got wet in her life. She hated water. Hector and Kitty saw her falling in and came running. Hector grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and dragged her out. Kitty gave her a whack and cleaned her thoroughly, scolding her all the while.
Winnie had a terrible time as Trevor and the frogs laughed at her. The birds and the the squirrels also saw her getting a sound dunking in the pool. Now Winnie tried very hard to behave properly, and she did manage it, except when she saw Trevor sleeping peacefully. Then she had to tease him!
