Boss cat by Sarah Speedie and Tom Jellett

A rather surprised and vexed looking cat sits on the front cover and reading the first few pages, the reader will see that the cat has a good reason to be irritated. The family has brought home a new addition, a puppy and that puppy sees the cat as a friend and playmate. The pup scares the cat from the couch where he was comfortably snoozing, then it jumps, bounces, tugs and chews, the cat realising that he must show this intruder just who is the boss. First he watches the pup continually fetching the ball, and surreptitiously puts out his foot to trip the animal. And that night after tea, the family has a movie night, complete with popcorn. The cat goes to his usual place but is distraught to hear the pup asked up onto the knees. This time the cat hisses at the dog, popcorn going everywhere and the family stunned. When Aunt Jo-Jo comes to stay, the cat is pleased as she always gives him treats. But not this time - this time she only has eyes for the puppy. This time the cat’s claws come out as he attacks the dog, and he is put outside. Later as the family is playing in the garden, the cat nudges the tap covering them all with water, but the tap has its revenge on the cat.

This delightful tale showcases the end result of bad behaviour. The cat is determined to undermine the dog and show it just who is boss. But he fails and has to sneak off the last page, very wet and dispirited.

A wonderful story with a warm loving family whose decision to take on a pup upsets one member, the cat. His schemes to undermine the dog only add to his discomfort, and achieves his ostracism from the family.

Jellett’s illustrations show this stupendously well, presenting a family working together, doing things families do, but not realising that the cat’s nose has been put out of joint when they bring home a pup. The images, often taking up the full double page, reveal a caring, supportive family, taken aback at the cat’s behaviour, forced to put him outside for a rethink.

I love the different looks on the cat’s face. Each is full of unspoken words, what he thinks is very clearly drawn with a small change in the way his eyes look, or the mouth curls, or changes in his body. The family members too are all different, with movement and colour used so effectively, as they must cope with the aftermath of the cat’s mischief. Readers will laugh out loud at the last pages as the cat gets a comeuppance and everyone is very wet. Full of laughs and wit, young readers will easily identify with the cat as it struggles to accept the pup into the family and perhaps reassess their own behaviour when a new member of their family arrives. 

Themes: Humour, Cats, Dogs, Families, Sibling rivalry.

Fran Knight