A Forever Home for Fluffy, page 1
Fluffy meowed loudly and gave Mr Gregory a hard stare. Mr Gregory’s lips twitched like he wanted to smile but then his eyes fell on Patch’s old bowl. “No, I don’t want a pet,” he said, frowning. “And if I did, I’d get a proper cat, not a daft looking powder puff like this one.”
To Angel.
A real angel pony.
Ears pricked, eyes sparkling,
you’re galloping with
the unicorns now.
“Slow down, Lolly! It’s not a race,” giggled Grace as the poodle she was walking pulled on her harness. She held the lead firmly until Lolly walked nicely at her side.
“Coco can’t wait to get to the park either,” said Jack, who was walking a brown-and-white spaniel. “Look at her ears. She’s going so fast it’s making them flap.”
Grace grinned. “They look like wings. Are you trying to fly, Coco?”
It was the first day of the May half-term and nine-year-old twins Grace and Jack Taylor were helping out at Top Dog, their mother’s doggy day care and boarding business.
“Lucky for me that you’re not busy today,” said Mum, who was walking four other dogs. “This is the busiest week I’ve had in ages. I think the whole town has gone on holiday together.”
“Not old Mr Grumpy Pants,” said Grace, nodding at an elderly gentleman standing in the large garden of a bungalow a few doors down from the Taylors. The garden wrapped all the way around the front and sides of the building. There was a shed on the left-hand side of it and a path on the right which led to the front door. The flower beds were full of colourful roses and the lawn was mown in neat stripes. The man was inspecting it. “Look at the way he’s scowling at the grass,” Grace went on. “I bet he’s telling it off for not growing in a straight line!”
“I like Mr Gregory’s garden,” said Jack as Coco and Lolly pulled them towards the hedge. “It’s really tidy and the stripy grass is fun. And look at the bird table over there. It’s full of tasty bird snacks. See the robin? It’s loving those seeds!” He pushed his dark hair out of his eyes.
The robin flew up from the bird table. Mr Gregory spun round and spotted the twins. “Keep those dogs away from my garden!” he ordered crossly.
“They’re scaring the birds.”
“His grumpy face is scaring the birds, more like,” Grace whispered to Jack. “The dogs are miles away from his stupid bird table.”
“Shh, Grace! That’s rude,” said Jack, glancing at Mr Gregory, worried that he might have heard.
“So? I don’t like people who don’t like dogs,” muttered Grace.
Their mum joined them at the hedge. “Good morning, Mr Gregory. What a lovely sunny day!”
“Hello, Mrs Taylor,” Mr Gregory said gruffly. “Yes, it is a beautiful morning. I hope you enjoy your walk.”
“See? He’s not so bad, Grace,” Jack said as they carried on along the road. “And he does like dogs really. Don’t you remember Patch, his old Jack Russell? When Patch got ill last summer, Mr Gregory put an umbrella up in the garden so that Patch could sit outside in the shade.”
“I’d forgotten that,” Mum said, nodding. “Mr Gregory was always talking to that dog or grooming him. He must really miss Patch. Perhaps he’d be able give a small dog a forever home, the next time you get one in.”
Grace and Jack had their own pet rehoming service called Forever Homes. They took in unwanted cats and dogs and cared for them until a home could be found with a perfect new owner.
“No way!” Grace vowed. Mr Gregory was far too grumpy to make a perfect owner for a Forever Homes dog!
Lolly wagged her tail excitedly as they entered the park. A woman came hurrying towards them, chasing after four young children on trikes and scooters.
“Everyone, STOP!” cried the lady, catching sight of the Taylors. “Just for a minute. I want to ask that lady with all the dogs a question.”
One of the younger children ran over. “Can I stroke the doggies, please?” she asked.
“Yes, you can, thank you for asking,” said Mrs Taylor, making the dogs sit. “That’s lovely stroking – and well done the rest of you, too.” she added as the other children crowded around, gently stroking the dogs and giggling as the dogs licked their hands.
“Hi there,” said the lady. “My name’s Helen – Helen Nixon. I hope you don’t mind me stopping you, but you look like you know all about dogs and I need some advice. I’m thinking of getting a dog. We bought a kitten a couple of months ago but it’s not working out. Don’t get me wrong, Fluffy is gorgeous. She’s five months old and very cute, but …” Mrs Nixon lowered her voice. “She also likes hunting. She keeps bringing mice in from the garden and sometimes they’re still alive.” She pulled a face. “It’s a bit horrible and the kids are getting upset. I think a dog might suit us better.”
Grace immediately pricked up her ears. If Mrs Nixon wasn’t getting on with her cat then maybe Forever Homes could help her. She widened her eyes at Jack and he nodded. Grace grinned. She loved the fact that she and Jack often had exactly the same thought. It was one of the best things about being twins!
Mum smiled sympathetically. “It does sound like a cat might not be the right pet for your family, but are you sure you could cope with a dog?”
“We all love walking, we’ve got a big garden and I’m home all day. My great-aunt can’t manage her Labrador any more. He’s good with kids and well trained. I wondered about taking him in for her and finding a new home for Fluffy.”
“That sounds like a very good plan,” Mum said.
Mrs Nixon looked relieved. “That’s what I thought too.”
“What will you do with Fluffy?” Grace burst out. “If you want a new home for her, my brother and I could help.”
“Yes,” Jack added. “Grace and I run a pet rehoming service called Forever Homes.”
“We find unwanted pets their perfect forever homes,” Grace said.
Mrs Nixon gave their mum a questioning look.
“It’s true,” said Mum. “The twins have rehomed quite a few dogs and cats.”
“Last month, we rehomed a cockapoo puppy called Tilly,” said Jack. “But right now we haven’t got any animals to look after.”
“Really?” said Mrs Nixon. “Well, if you would help with Fluffy, I’d be very grateful. I do want her to go to a good home where she’ll be loved.”
“Absolutely.” Mum smiled back at her. “If you’re happy for Grace and Jack to rehome her then perhaps you’d like to bring her round. We can have a chat about dogs at the same time and I can give you some advice on settling a new dog in.”
“That would be brilliant,” said Mrs Nixon. “How soon can I come over?”
“We’re free this afternoon,” said Jack. “I think I’ve got a card somewhere with our details on.” He rummaged in his pocket, pulling out a marble, an old sweet, a football card and finally a Forever Homes business card. “Here you are. We can see you any time after two o’clock.”
“Wonderful. I’ll bring Fluffy then,” said Mrs Nixon, beaming. “Oh, this has all worked out perfectly! I’m so glad I stopped you.”
“We’ll see you later,” said Mum as she and the twins set off with the dogs again.
“A new pet to rehome!” said Jack happily.
“A kitten!” said Grace. Excitement fizzed through her. “I really can’t wait until this afternoon!”
The Forever Homes office was in a shed at the end of the twins’ rambling garden. Grace had painted the sign over the door that said, “Forever Homes”. Inside, the walls were decorated with photos of the pets Grace and Jack had rehomed. There was a desk, a water bowl and a crate of dog and cat toys. A little after two o’clock, Grace and Jack were tidying up when there was a knock.
Grace opened the door to her mother and Mrs Nixon, who was carrying a plastic pet carrier. “Is that Fluffy?” said Grace eagerly, peering in at the little white kitten. “She’s just a huge white ball!”
The fluff ball moved and two bright green eyes stared back at Grace.
“She’s adorable,” breathed Grace. Fluffy had the pinkest nose and long white whiskers that twitched delicately. Grace longed to take her out of the pet carrier and give her a cuddle. She waited impatiently as Jack checked the little cat in, writing her details in the big blue Forever Homes notebook and getting Mrs Nixon to sign a piece of paper officially giving Fluffy to them. When he’d finished, Mum took Mrs Nixon away to talk to her about settling her new dog into the family.
“At last!” said Grace. “Shut the door, Jack. I’m letting Fluffy out.”
Jack closed the shed door firmly and checked the windows were shut too. “We’re going to have to be very careful. If Fluffy gets into the garden she could easily jump over the fence and get lost. It takes a while before cats recognise new houses as their homes.”
Grace undid the pet carrier and stayed quite still as Fluffy stretched forward to sniff at Grace’s fingers.
“See? I’m very friendly.” Grace encouraged the kitten by wiggling her fingers.
Fluffy meowed and stalked confidently out of the carrier. She rubbed her face against Grace’s hand. “Oooh!” Grace murmured. “You’re so cute. Everyone’s going to want to give you a new forever home!”
“Let’s do the personality test,” said Jack. All animals who came to Forever Homes took a personality test. It helped the twins match the animal to a suitable new owner. Jack took a ball out of the crate of toys and rolled it across the floor. The bell inside tinkled as it rolled. Fluffy watched it
“She’s not very playful,” said Jack, making a note on the test sheet.
“Let’s do the cuddle test next,” said Grace.
“Not yet, Grace!” said Jack. “Let’s try her with another toy first.” He set a plastic fish in front of Fluffy and wiggled it from side to side. Fluffy watched it, her tail twitching. Then she pounced, snatching the fish from Jack with her claws.
“She’s got very fast reactions,” said Jack, writing it down. “OK, now let’s see if she likes cuddles.”
It was the moment Grace had been waiting for. She scooped Fluffy up. The kitten snuggled into her chest, rubbing against Grace’s chin. Grace kissed the top of her head. “She definitely likes being cuddled! Here, you try, Jack.”
He took her and Fluffy snuggled into his arms. Jack smiled. “She’s so soft. Let’s try grooming her. Can you pass the special brush for long-haired cats? It should be in the cupboard.”
Grace found the brush. It had a mixture of long and short wire teeth and was great for brushing out tangles. While Jack held Fluffy, Grace ran the brush through the kitten’s long coat, brushing a small section of fur at a time. “Her coat is really lovely. It feels like silk. Mrs Nixon must have groomed her every day to keep it this nice.”
“Fluffy seems to like being groomed,” said Jack.
“She does! Can you hear her purring? She sounds just like a car engine. She’s going to need a family who doesn’t mind cat hair though,” Grace added, realising her jeans were covered in long white fur. She took Fluffy from her brother so he could write some more notes on the test sheet.
“So, she needs to be with an owner who is prepared to spend time grooming her, who doesn’t mind cat hair and who doesn’t mind when she brings mice inside, so probably a home without young children,” said Jack, reading his notes back. “She’s not very playful but she’s friendly and loves a cuddle. Last thing, we need to find out is how she is with dogs. You stay here. I’ll go and fetch Tiny.”
Tiny was the family’s enormous German Shepherd cross. He was a gentle giant and he loved cats. Jack led him into the shed, stopping a short distance away from Fluffy who was dozing, all snuggled up on Grace’s lap.
Tiny’s nose twitched with interest as he caught Fluffy’s scent. Spotting her in Grace’s lap, he lay down. Fluffy’s green eyes opened wide and with a hiss of warning she fixed Tiny with an unblinking look. Tiny made himself flatter by pressing further into the floor, resting his nose on his paws to show Fluffy that he meant her no harm.
Fluffy stalked towards Tiny as if he was a giant mouse. When the animals were almost nose to nose, Fluffy raised a paw and swiped the air just above Tiny’s nose. Tiny grunted in surprise. Fluffy jumped back. Tiny stayed very still, his face resting on his paws. Fluffy walked all around him and then climbed on his back. Tiny didn’t move as Fluffy confidently settled on his head and meowed.
“Aw, that’s so sweet!” said Grace. “You’re such a good boy, Tiny.”
He wagged his tail but stayed very still.
“I think we can definitely say Fluffy likes dogs,” Grace went on.
“And is happy to boss them around,” added Jack. “So, do we know anyone who wants a cat like Fluffy?”
Grace shook her head. “Not that I can think of, but I’m sure we’ll find someone.” She stroked the little kitten. “The perfect owner is out there waiting for you, Fluffy.”
Jack grinned at her. “And we’re going to find them!”
Over the next few days, Grace and Jack put posters about Fluffy up in the local shops and spent time getting to know the kitten. She usually ignored her toys unless the twins made them move across the floor and then she would chase and pounce. Most of the time she spent either demanding cuddles or sleeping. Her favourite spots were in the kitchen, stretched out on the window seat snoozing in the sunlight, or snuggled up to Tiny.
The twins had a couple of people call, but they both wanted short-haired cats and weren’t interested when they heard how much grooming Fluffy needed.
A week after Fluffy had arrived, the twins came in from their karate lesson starving and ready for tea. Amelia, their thirteen-year-old sister, was in the kitchen, listening to music on her phone with Fluffy curled on her lap, while Dad was putting the plates out on the side as he got ready to dish up dinner.
“Where’s Ollie?” asked Mum, dropping her car key in the dresser drawer.
“I’m here,” said Ollie, the twins’ seventeen-year-old brother. He pushed open the door and came inside. “I’ve just got back from the funfair.”
“Boring,” said Amelia. “My friends and I went but the rides were totally lame. The ghost train broke down and we had to get out and walk through giant fake spiders’ webs hanging from the ceiling. They weren’t even a tiny bit scary.”
“Oooh, you’re so brave, Amelia,” Ollie teased. “Doesn’t anything scare you?”
“Only your face,” Amelia retorted.
“Amelia,” warned Mum. “That’s not very nice.”
Ollie winked at Grace. She watched him take something from his pocket and set it on the floor. “Watch out, Amelia. A rat!” he shouted.
“What? Where?” Amelia twisted round so fast she tipped Fluffy from her lap. “Aaaaah!” she squealed as something brown and furry shot across the kitchen towards her. Fluffy sprang lightning fast, pouncing on the rat and snatching it up in her mouth.
“Fluffy!” cried Jack as she shook it hard and then pinned it to the ground.
Grace could hardly bear to look. She knew it was natural for cats to kill rats and mice but she didn’t want to have to watch. She peeked between her fingers as the rat started to make a weird buzzing sound.
It’s not real! Grace realised with a rush of relief. It’s just a wind-up toy.
Fluffy carried the toy rat proudly over to Amelia and dumped it in her lap.
“Gross!” Amelia shrieked, jumping up.
“Don’t you like Mr Ratty?” said Ollie. He wiggled the toy under Amelia’s nose, making her shriek even louder and climb up on her chair.
“Amelia, stop it,” Mum said, her shoulders heaving with laughter.
Dad was chuckling too. “It’s only a toy, Amelia. It’s not a real rat.”
“It’s clockwork! I won it at the fair.” Ollie could hardly get his words out for laughing. “Isn’t it brilliant? It’s so lifelike.”
“I hate you!” Amelia told him, climbing off the chair crossly.
“Mrs Nixon’s right, Fluffy is an excellent mouser,” Jack said to Grace. “And she’s not afraid to tackle rats either!” Fluffy stalked around looking very proud of herself.
“Did you see how much she loved catching it?” said Grace. “We need to find her a home where her mousing skills can come in useful.”
“Maybe a farm?” Jack suggested.
Mum raised her eyebrows. “With all that hair?”
“I guess not,” admitted Jack.
Fluffy jumped up beside the sink and stood by the cold water tap. She meowed. “What does she want?” said Mum.
“That’s her way of saying she wants a drink,” said Grace, getting up and turning the tap on. Fluffy lapped the water from the tap as it poured into the sink. “She’s decided she doesn’t like drinking from her water bowl. She likes people to turn the tap on for her,” Grace explained.
“You’re a real princess, aren’t you, Fluffy?” Mum teased, stroking the kitten behind her ears. “You’re going to need an owner who’s happy to be bossed around.”
Jack frowned. “I don’t think it’s going to be as easy to find a home for her as we thought. She needs someone who will give her lots of attention, who doesn’t mind when she catches mice, who’s happy to groom her—”
“And cuddle her,” said Grace, scooping the kitten up. “We’ll find you the perfect home, don’t worry, Fluffy,” she promised.
