The Case of the Cat Show Princess

by Cindy Vincent

  Holy Mackerel! I didn’t even know where to begin to answer all those questions!

  But Bogey didn’t even seem bothered by them at all.

  “Yes, this is fun,” he said to the bunch. “But I was wondering if you happened to know a cat with the initials P.A.”

  “P.A.? P.A?” They all said at once. Then one looked at the other, and then the other, and then the other. One rolled onto his back and the other pounced on his stomach. Another one jumped on his back and pretty soon they were just one big jumble of brown fur.

  Finally, one poked his head out and said, “No, we don’t know any cat named P.A. But this is our first show ever. So we don’t know many other cats at all.”

  Bogey waved a paw at them. “Thanks, anyway.” Then he dropped the curtain and let the bunch play.

  He nodded at me. “Okay, now it’s your turn, kid. Let’s see what you can find out.” He motioned to the other side of the cage.

  Right then and there I was just a little nervous. That’s because I wasn’t as good as Bogey was when it came to asking questions. Bogey was a pro, after all. He knew how to ask the right question at the right time to get the right answer.

  But, well, I figured I had to learn some time. So I stuck my paw outside the cage on the other side. Just like Bogey had done, I grabbed the curtain and pulled it back.

  “Excuse me,” I said to the cage next to me.

  But nothing happened.

  So I said, “Hello! Could I please talk to you?”

  At long last, I saw the curtains wiggle a little bit. A second or two later, a sleek, light brown paw hooked the edge of the curtain. Then the curtain was pulled back to reveal a very slim and sleek Siamese cat.

  He looked just like Hector, the cat who lived across the street. And if there was one thing I knew about Hector, it was that he was a blabbermouth. A big blabbermouth. Whenever Hector got some juicy gossip about anyone, well, he quickly passed that on to everyone.

  If this Siamese was anything like Hector, well, I figured it was going to be easy to get information out of him.

  “Hi, there,” I said in my nicest voice. “My name is Buckley and this is my associate, Bogart. I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions.”

  The other cat scowled at me. “Only if it’ll get you to leave me alone.”

  Let me tell you, I thought that was a really rude thing to say. But maybe he didn’t mean it exactly like it sounded. Sometimes cats say things that just don’t come out right, and well, it can sound bad.

  So I decided to give this guy the benefit of the doubt.

  “All right . . .” I started to say.

  But the Siamese cut me off. “Do you even know who you are talking to? I am five times Grand Champion in ten different categories. I’ve won more ribbons than you’ll ever see in a lifetime. Tell me, have you ever even won one ribbon?”

  Okay, by now I’d figured out that this cat was being rude on purpose.

  “No,” I said slowly. “I’ve never even been to a cat show before.”

  The Siamese rolled his eyes. “That figures. That just figures. Let me guess — you’re nothing but a family pet.”

  Now I was starting to get mad. “Yes, I am. I love my family.”

  The other cat snorted. “Isn’t that just cute? I can’t believe who they’ll let enter cat shows these days. They’ll let anybody in. In my day, you had to be somebody special before they’d even accept your application.”

  I was about to say something nasty back to him when Bogey jumped in. “Since you’ve been to so many of these shows, maybe you could help us find someone. We’re looking for a cat with the initials P.A.”

  Now the Siamese laughed out loud. “P.A.? P.A.? You’re kidding me, right? Boy, you are a couple of greenhorns! P.A. would have nothing to do with you. And from this moment on, neither will I.”

  With that he dropped the curtain.

  Right about then, I think my chin almost hit the floor. I couldn’t believe another cat could be so mean. I had a notion to teach him a lesson by showing him exactly how big my paws were. If only I could get out of my cage.

  But Bogey pulled me back. “Don’t sweat it, kid. Guys like that always get what they’ve got coming to them.”

  I started to pace the cage. “Can you believe that? How rude can one cat be?”

  Bogey shook his head. “Doesn’t matter, kid. Especially since we found out some important information.”

  I stopped pacing and stared at my friend. “We did?”

  He nodded. “Yup. We know that this guy knows P.A. That means P.A. has probably been to lots of cat shows. And from what he said, I’m guessing P.A. has won lots of awards.”

  “Wow . . .” I breathed. Bogey was good. He figured out all that from one nasty cat next door.

  Just then, we heard an announcement over the loud speaker. “Could I have your attention? Your attention, please.”

  Suddenly everyone stopped talking and listened to the announcement.

  “Good morning, everyone,” the announcer said. “This is Felicia Fairweather speaking. I am the President of the St. Gertrude Cat Club and I’d like to welcome you to the St. Gertrude Cat Show. We’re very pleased you could join us today and tomorrow. I hope to speak to each and every one of you in person before the show is over.”

  Holy catnip! Felicia was going to talk to everyone? What if she talked to our Mom? What if she found out about the fake letter? Would she send us home?

  I looked over at Bogey, who was munching on a cat treat. He winked at me and smiled.

  How could he be so calm at a time like this?

  “Now,” Felicia said over the loud speaker. “Let’s get started this morning with Round One of the Cutest Family Pet Competition. We’ll begin with the longhaired cats. Please proceed to Stage One.”

  Longhaired cats? I was a longhaired cat. I was also entered in the Cutest Family Pet Competition.

  Outside the cage, I saw Gracie jump up and down. “That’s Buckley’s group,” she yelled. “He’s going to win! I just know it!”

  If only I knew it. Instead of being confident, I just started to shake in my paws.

  Bogey handed me a cat treat. “You’re up, kid. Just remember what Lil taught you. Look right at the judges. And cock your head at that really cute angle.”

  That’s when it dawned on me. Would I ever remember all the things Lil had taught me?

  My Mom unzipped the cage and petted me. “Buckley, it’s your turn to go for judging.”

  Bogey touched my shoulder with his paw. “One more thing, kid.”

  By now I had really started to shake. If only Bogey had gone first, so he could tell me what to expect.

  “What is it?” I asked my friend.

  “Keep your eyes peeled for P.A.”

  I tried to salute him but I only hit myself in the nose. “You got it.”

  My Mom picked me up and cuddled me. She and Gracie said good-bye to Bogey and told him they’d be back soon. Then my Mom carried me down the aisle toward the Judge’s Stage.

  With that, I was off for my first ever competition at a cat show.

  Holy Catnip!

  CHAPTER 4

  I snuggled up close to my Mom as she carried me to the Judge’s Stage. All around me I saw other pet Moms and family members bringing cats up to the stage, too. Funny, but most of those cats looked like they were shaking and whining just like I was.

  I guess we were all pretty nervous about being in the cat show.

  Once we got to the stage a blonde lady in a bright yellow sweater directed us to another cage. My Mom set me inside and Gracie brushed me one more time.

  “I’m so proud of you, Buckley,” she told me. “I’m so glad you’re my cat.”

  I gave her a kiss on the nose. Just to let her know I was glad she was my human.

  Then Gracie shut the door of the wire cage. She and my Mom walked to the edge of the stage and down the steps. They sat in the front row of the audience and waved at me. I waved back and gave the
m a little meow.

  After that, I figured it was time for me to start acting like a cat detective. Instead of like a scaredy cat. I wondered what Bogey would do in this situation. I was pretty sure the first thing he’d tell me was to take a good look around.

  So I did just that. My cage looked like it was in the middle of a whole row of cages. Other cats were being put into cages, too. Most of them were also being brushed one more time. And there was lots of kissing and hugging and people saying good-bye.

  I have to say, I was so glad to see so many cats who had families who loved them. After all, I knew what it was like to be in an animal shelter and not have any family at all.

  I noticed a beautiful, longhaired calico in the cage beside mine. She was crouched down, kind of like she was trying to hide.

  I waved at her. “Hello,” I told her. “My name is Buckley. Buckley Bergdorf. What’s your name?”

  She turned and looked at me. “It’s Amelia.”

  I gave her a little bow. “Nice to meet you, Amelia. Boy, I sure am nervous here today. I’ve never been in a cat show before.”

  Her green eyes went wide. “I’m nervous, too! I’ve never been in a cat show either. It’s kind of scary, huh?”

  I nodded. “Yup. But I think lots of things are scary the first time you do them. Then you get used to it and it’s not so scary any more.”

  She sighed. “Boy, you can say that again. I’m so afraid the judges won’t like me. Do I have any fur out of place?”

  I looked her over. Her feet and neck and tummy were a bright pretty white. And the rest of her was brown and black and orange and gray and tan. She had so many spots and stripes and colors that I could hardly count them all. That’s the thing about calicos — they can have more colors than my Mom’s flower garden in the summer.

  I noticed a place on her back where her fur was a little messed up. “There is one spot that’s kind of rumpled,” I said. “On your back. Scoot over here and I’ll fix it.”

  She leaned against the side of her cage. I licked my paw and flattened down the fur.

  “There,” I told her. “All nice and smooth.”

  “Thanks,” she said. “If there’s ever anything I can help you with, just let me know.”

  I smiled at her. “That would be great. Because, to tell you the truth, my associate, Bogey, and I are here on a case.”

  She wrinkled her half-black and half-orange forehead. “A case?”

  I lowered my voice just a little. “Yup. Don’t tell anyone, but Bogey and I are cat detectives.”

  Her eyes went wide. “You are?”

  I nodded. “Uh-huh. But keep it a secret, okay?”

  “I will,” she promised. “Cross my heart. You’re really here on a case?”

  I glanced from side to side, just to make sure nobody was listening in on our conversation. “Yup. We’re here to rescue a cat with the initials P.A. Do you know anyone with the initials P.A.?”

  She frowned. “P.A. . . . Hmmm . . . No, I don’t know any P.A. But I’ll keep my eyes open and let you know if I find out anything.”

  I smiled at her again. Amelia seemed like a very nice cat and I was already starting to like her. I guess it had never dawned on me that I might meet some new friends at the cat show.

  I gave her a “paws up.” “Thanks,” I said. “Bogey and I would sure appreciate the help.”

  Just then we heard some music that sounded sort of like, “Dun-dun-ta-da!” A man in a tuxedo with black tails and a black top hat stepped onto the stage. He had long, white hair and a big, white mustache that stuck out like, well . . . like cat whiskers! He grabbed his hat from his head and swooshed it out with a flourish.

  “Good Morning, Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome one and all,” he practically roared. “And a very good morning to my friends of the feline persuasion! My name is Seymour Katts, and I will be the judge of the Cutest Family Pet Competition here at the St. Gertrude Cat Show. As you well know, we’re starting with Round Number One. Then we’ll work our way up through all four rounds, until we have determined a winner. Now, let’s get started, shall we?”

  With those words, he strolled to the cage on the end and pulled out a big, gray tiger-striped cat. He took the cat to a podium on the stage and placed him right on top.

  Then he proceeded to pet the striped cat. “Here we have Rover, a seven-year-old male.”

  Next the judge pulled out a wand, with a bunch of feathers attached to the end. He waved the feathers in front of Rover’s face. I thought Rover might bat at the feathers, but Holy Catnip! I couldn’t have been more wrong. Because, instead of batting at the feathers, Rover batted at the judge! Then he hissed and yowled at him, too.

  Of course, none of the humans in the room understood what Rover was really saying. But I heard him loud and clear.

  He’d basically told the judge to leave him alone. He’d also said something like, what did this judge take him for — a kitten?

  Anyway, I probably don’t have to tell you but that was the end of Rover’s cat show career. The judge carefully lifted him off the podium and put him back in his cage.

  Beside me, Amelia gasped. “What did he do wrong?”

  I shook my head. “Never, ever hiss at a judge. Always act like you’re happy to be there. When they wave that little feather thing in front of you, just cock your head to the side and bat at it. So you look really, really . . . um . . . cute.”

  Her chin practically dropped to the bottom of her cage. “Wow, how do you know all that?”

  I nodded toward the podium. “One of the other cats at my house told me. For some reason, she knows all about this cat show stuff. Her name is Lil Bits.”

  Amelia examined her nails. “Lil Bits? Now that’s a name I think I’ve heard before.”

  It was my turn to be surprised. “You have? Where?”

  But before she could answer, the judge pulled another cat from a cage and brought it to the podium. “Here we have Heather,” the judge announced. Heather was white with black spots. And Heather looked very, very scared. Especially when the judge waved the feather wand at her. Instead of batting at it, she just kind of cowered. Then he picked her up with one hand under the ribs and one hand under her hips. He held her up and stretched her out lengthwise, so she looked a little bit like she was flying.

  As you can imagine, I don’t think Heather exactly liked that treatment. And seconds later, she was returned to her cage.

  Then the judge went on down the row, until he had pulled out cat after cat after cat. Some of them batted at the feather wand, but most didn’t. Some of them hissed and some of them tried to escape when he stretched them out for display.

  Finally, the judge stopped in front of Amelia’s cage.

  “Good luck,” I meowed to her. “Remember what I told you.”

  “I’ll try,” she meowed back.

  My stomach did flip-flops as I watched her being carried to the podium. The judge introduced her and then waved the feather thing in her face. Just like I’d taught her, she tilted her head to the side, and batted daintily at the feathers.

  “Yay!” I cheered. I was so happy to see my new friend doing well!

  Then the judge raised her up and pulled her out lengthwise. At first she squirmed just a little bit, but then she settled down. I wanted to cheer again, but instead I just held my breath, waiting for it all to be over.

  And let me tell you, it seemed like it was over in a hurry.

  Because it was just a few minutes later when the judge put Amelia back and opened the door of my cage. He picked me up and pulled me out. Strange, but I suddenly missed the safety of that metal cage. I only hoped I could remember everything I was supposed to do.

  “Go get ‘em, Buckley,” Amelia meowed as the judge carried me to the podium.

  Okay, right then and there, I was pretty nervous. So I turned and looked at my Mom and Gracie in the audience. I knew if I could only see their faces, it would give me more confidence!

  Gracie blew me a kiss and my
Mom smiled. I must have smiled, too, because that’s when I heard it.

  “Aaaahhhhh . . .” everyone in the crowd seemed to say at once. “He’s so cute . . .”

  Holy Mackerel! Just what a guy wants to hear when he’s already nervous enough.

  Then the judge said, “Our next cat is Buckley, a two-year-old male. My, but you’re a big fella, aren’t you, Buckley?”

  Wouldn’t you know it, but that brought more “aaahhhs” from the audience. Now my Mom dabbed at her eyes, and Gracie stood up and clapped.

  After that, everything seemed to happen so fast. Before I knew it, that feather thingey was thrust right in front of my face. Just like Lil had told me, I cocked my head to the side and batted at it. In fact, just to make sure I was doing a good job, I stood on my hind feet and really went after that feather with both paws.

  I guess that was when my instincts sort of kicked in. Because, much to my surprise, I kept batting and batting at that feather thingey until I caught it. In a split second, I had it in my mouth like I’d just caught a real bird or something. I jumped on the end of the wand and started to wrestle it like it was alive. With the wand firmly grasped between both my big paws, I rolled over on my back and started to kick the stuffing out of that wand.

  Then I heard the judge gasp. And that’s when I realized what I’d done. I’d actually taken his feather wand away from him and had started to destroy it.

  Uh-oh.

  Suddenly I froze in place. The judge was staring at me with wide eyes. The audience was staring at me with wide eyes. And I’ll bet my own eyes were pretty wide right about then, too.

  Holy Catnip! I rolled over back onto my feet. Then I opened my mouth and just let what was left of that feather thingey fall to the floor.

  It seemed like the whole audience stayed quiet forever.

  At long last, the judge finally spoke. “Well,” he said. “It’s nice to see so much enthusiasm from one of our competitors. Good job, Buckley. You’re the first cat who’s ever taken that toy away from me.”