Page 51 of New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Cafe
‘Allcats are your favourites, Lara. Izzy could show us a bald, three-legged one with bad breath and that would be your favourite too,’ Leo said. Lara giggled, shaking her head.
‘When we go inside, you need to dip your shoes in the tray of disinfectant by the door. That’s to keep the kittens safe.’ Lara nodded eagerly, clearly determined to show Izzy that this was her number one priority. ‘Here we go,’ said Izzy, opening the cabin door.
Lara spotted the kittens immediately and squealed in delight, before remembering her promise to be quiet and clasping a hand over her mouth in excitement.
‘Uncle Leo, Tori, look!’ said Lara, pointing towards the pen. Inside were six gorgeous tabby kittens, with blue eyes, all wide awake and mewing. A couple were play-fighting and rolling around, two were frantically chasing a toy ball and the final two kittens were sat calmly next to their mum, who looked up towards the pen door at the sight of Izzy.
‘This is their mum, Angel. She came in as a stray, heavily pregnant. She’s a really friendly girl, loves human attention, as you can see.’ Angel rubbed her cheek against the pen’s mesh, purring loudly. ‘As the babies were born in our care, they’re all well socialized and used to being handled, so they’ll be ideal for Lara.’
‘They’re beautiful,’ said Tori, her eyes widening.
‘Can we go in with them?’ asked Lara.
‘Of course. I’ll leave you guys alone and let Lara make her choice. You can have the pick of the litter.’
‘Perfect. Thanks, Izzy,’ said Leo.
‘Oh Lara, how are you ever going to choose?’ laughed Tori as Lara plonked herself down in the middle of the pen, all six kittens making an instant beeline for her.
‘I don’t know!’ said Lara, picking up a fishing rod toy and waving it around. All six kittens sprung into action, eagerly chasing the toy and attempting to pounce on it. ‘I love them all.’
‘You’re a natural kitten wrangler, Lara,’ said Leo. ‘You’ve got the whole bunch of them entertained.’
‘And what about you, Angel?’ Tori said to the small tabby cat, who was weaving around her ankles, purring happily. ‘What do you make of us?’ Angel stood up on her back legs and placed her front paws gently on Tori’s shins, letting out a tiny mew. ‘Do you want me to pick you up?’ Tori bent down and scooped Angel up in her arms. The cat’s purr intensified. ‘Isn’t she gorgeous?’
‘Uh-oh,’ said Leo, scratching his head.
‘What?’ asked Tori, cradling Angel in her arms like a baby.
‘I know we’re meant to be looking at the kittens, but I’d say you might have found a resident for the café right there.’ He nodded at Angel.
‘Angel?’
‘Angel,’ said Leo, nodding his head. ‘I’d say you’re smitten.’
‘She is lovely, isn’t she? Do you think Izzy would agree?’
‘You can only ask,’ said Leo, stroking Angel under the chin.
‘What do you think, Angel? Would you like to live at the café until you find your forever home?’ Tori asked.
‘How’s it going, Lara?’ said Leo, sitting on the floor nextto his niece. He was instantly set upon by two kittens, who climbed up his shirt and started squeaking at him. ‘Ouch, their little claws are so sharp!’ He pulled the kittens’ claws gently away from his shirt and threw a ball for them; they raced off in hot pursuit.
‘Don’t be such a baby, Uncle Leo,’ said Lara. Tori tried hard not to laugh. ‘I can’t decide between these two.’ She pointed at the two kittens who had fallen asleep in her lap. One was fluffy, the biggest of the bunch, and the other was much smaller, with four white socks and a flash of white across its chest.
‘You’ve got to narrow it down to one, I’m afraid,’ said Leo, his brow furrowed. ‘Your mum won’t be impressed if I tell her you’re gettinga pairof kittens.’
‘But look, they love each other,’ said Lara, her eyes wide. ‘Wecan’tsplit them up, Uncle Leo, we just can’t.’
‘If you’re going to get one kitten, why not two? You never know, they might keep each other out of mischief?’ said Tori, casting a conspiratorial wink in Lara’s direction. The little girl beamed at her.
‘Or they could be double trouble?’ said Leo, laughing. ‘Aren’t you supposed to back me up, not side with Lara?’
‘Tori’s right, Uncle Leo.You’vegot two cats. Two is the perfect number of cats to have.’
‘I get the sense that I’m outnumbered here,’ said Leo, scooping up both kittens in his arms. ‘And what do you think, sleepy kittens? Do you want to live with Lara? She’s very messy and never does as she’s told. Do you think youcan handle that?’ He held the kittens up to his ears, as though they were talking to him. ‘Well, it’s a yes from them.’ Lara leapt up and threw her arms around Leo’s neck. ‘So long as it’s okay with your mum, then two kittens it is!’
‘Thanks, Uncle Leo. I know Mum won’t mind.’
