Part 1- The Under-the-Stairs Cat


Matthew never even wanted a cat. He had always wanted a dog like his friend Kaitlin, but Matthew's mom was allergic to dog hair and thought hairless dogs were ugly. Still, Matthew wanted a dog more than anything. Cats dont like going to the park or playing Frisbee. Cats are boring, Matthew thought.

But a cat is exactly what Matthews dad brought home one day. Not even a kitten, but a fat, loud-mouthed cat from the SPCA who ate more food than a dog. The cat was so annoying. He yowled whenever he walked into the room as if he owned the whole house and Matthew had better watch out! Matthew wouldnt name the cat for a whole week because he kept hoping Dad would take him back. Even a bald dog would be better than this blob of a cat.

Dad tried calling him Panda because he was black and white and chubby. But Matthew didnt like that name and he wasnt the only one. The cat wailed so loud every time Dad said, Here, Panda. Here, kitty-kitty, and made dumb kissy noises.

Matthew didnt blame the cat for yowling at those. Matthew joked that they could call him Stupid. Here, Stupid. Here, kitty-kitty. The cat just turned his back and walked out of the room with his tail straight up like an exclamation mark behind him. Maybe if I call him Dalmatian, hell turn into one, Matthew thought. No such luck.

The fat cat finally got named one day when Mom, still sleepy, came downstairs to have breakfast with Matthew. The cat was hiding under the stairs and jumped out to attack her bare feet. Mom was so surprised that she jumped higher than a basketball player and then ran into the kitchen where she found Matthew bent over laughing.

The cat strolled into the kitchen and sat up in the chair beside Matthew as if he was waiting to be served something to eat. Oh, you sneaky cat, Mom said shaking her finger at him.

Sneaky! Thats what we should call him, Matthew said.

Sneaky twitched his whiskers at the name and purred so loudly youd think he had swallowed a motor in the middle of the night. Then he looked up at Matthew and seemed to wink.

After that, Matthew liked his prankster cat. Sneaky got Dad one morning with the stair trick too. But he never surprised Matthew coming down the stairs because Matthew always remembered to wear his slippers, and jumped down off the last step.



Part 2- The Good Company Cat

Sneaky the cat wasnt all games and tricks. He was good company too. Sometimes at night he slept at the end of Matthews bed and warm his feet up better than any old dog. Sometimes on chilly afternoons, Sneaky hung around Matthews neck like a scarf as they read together, and Sneaky pricked up his radar ears as he listened to the story.

Every morning, Matthew and Sneaky looked at the comics as they ate breakfast together. Sneaky always had a double portion of food. Matthew thought that he must be the hungriest cat in the world, not to mention the fattest. Matthew guessed that Sneaky probably slept all day somewhere in the garden while he was away at school. I hope he isnt too lonely.

Every afternoon, Sneaky was waiting for him, sitting bright eyed on the front porch, ready to greet Matthew with a yowling hello. Then they would go inside and have an afternoon snack as Matthew told Sneaky all about his day and what he learned from his teacher. Matthew wished Sneaky could talk too, instead of just yowl, so that he could tell Matthew all about his day as a cat. But Sneaky only twitched his whiskers and winked whenever Matthew asked, And what did you do today?

One day when Matthew came home from school Sneaky wasnt there to meet him. By dinnertime he still hadnt seen Sneaky. Matthew searched everywhere for him, behind the stairs, under the bed, and in Sneakys favourite spot where he purred the loudestóthe linen cupboard on the soft clean towels (Mom didnt like that so Matthew kept it a secret for Sneaky).

Sneaky seemed to have disappeared completely. For a whole week there was no sign of him. Matthew missed him more than any dog he ever wanted. He tried to stay busy, practising piano and playing soccer in the backyard with Kaitlin, but he kept thinking about Sneaky: how he used to jump from the sofa to the top of the piano like a flying trapeze artist and the way hed play in the grass, attacking dandelions like an expert hunter while Matthew perfected his soccer dribbling.



Part 3- The Community Cat



Sneakys disappearance was a mystery. Dad helped Matthew put up lost cat signs on telephone poles around the neighbourhood. I hope he hasnt been cat-napped, Matthew thought.

A few days later a man called and said, Excuse me, but Im wondering why you have put my cat on your posters.

Your cat? Matthew said. But Sneaky is my cat.

No. I dont think so, said the man. The big black and white cat in the poster picture is at our house every day patrolling the basement for mice. Hes a great hunter, very sneaky, like you said.

Could you put him outside? Then maybe hell come home, Matthew said.

Well, hes not here now but hell probably come around soon for something to eat. He loves tuna. We joke and call him Tuna Breath.

Yes, Sneaky is always hungry, Matthew said.

After Matthew hung up the phone he asked Dad, Arent we feeding Sneaky enough? I think hes going around the neighbourhood for food.

But before Dad could answer, the phone rang again.

Hello, Matthew speaking, Matthew said.

Hi there. Im calling about the cat posters, an old lady said.

Oh, no, Matthew said.

That black and white cat was a stray, but I adopted her. Usually she stays with me in my backyard and we garden together. Shes very helpful. She scares all the crows away and is a little like a lawnmower, too, because she eats the grass along the edges.

She? Matthew asked, confused.

Yes, shes very fat. I think shes going to have kittens soon.

Oh, no. Sneaky is a boy. He just likes to eat a lot. Is he there right now?

Yes, the old lady said. Hes been staying with me for the past week. I wasnt feeling well, so hes been keeping me company inside. I live by myself and I am often very lonely.

When Matthew hung up the phone he sadly said to Dad, Sneaky has found a new home. Hes living with an old lady and catching the mice for other people. Hes not my cat anymore.

But just as he said this, Matthew heard a familiar yowl. He opened the back door and in came Sneaky. Sneaky headed straight for his food dish to gobble down a double portion as if had not eaten in a long, long time.

He must be hungry from his outing, Mom said.

How can we make him stay, Dad? Matthew asked.

Thats the thing. We cant, Dad said. You cant own a cat. They only keep you company. And hes a friendly guy. It sounds like hes been visiting lots of people, helping them out and cheering them up. Hes a pretty special cat, even if hes away sometimes. You should be proud of Sneaky because he cares about everyone.

Then I guess its not so bad sharing him, Matthew said. He can be the community cat, and a mascot for the neighbourhood.

Sounds good to me. And we could get him a collar so everyone knows his name. What do you think, Sneaky? Dad asked.

At that, Sneaky rubbed Matthews leg as if to say sorry for staying away so long. Then he led Matthew to their favourite hiding place under the stairs to wait for some feet to pass.

Matthew couldnt help but hug his fat cat. Sneaky purred loudly into Matthews ear, his throat motor working overtime because he was back with his favourite friend.

The next day when Matthew headed off to school, he said, Have fun Sneaky, wherever you go. Sneaky waved back at Matthew with his tail, which was in the shape of a question mark as if he was wondering, What will I do today?

Over Saturday morning breakfast and comics Mom said, If you cant keep him, join him, then sent Matthew off with Sneaky for visits (and adventures) around the neighbourhood. Sneaky is like a celebrity because everyone knows him, and feeds him. Matthew is usually offered a treat too. Though Matthew likes cookies a lot more than tuna.

Sneaky is everyones cat, and many different things. Sometimes he is a jokester, sometimes he is a hunter, and sometimes he is a gardener. But always, he is a friend.