The Story of a Cat

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

27472

Title

The Story of a Cat

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A heartwarming tale of loyalty and redemption, this classic story follows a street cat rescued by a compassionate countess and protected by her devoted maid against a malicious steward. Blending humor, suspense, and deep affection for animals, the narrative celebrates the bond between humans and their pets while exposing the dangers of jealousy and malice.

Summary up to 500 words

Set in 18th-century Paris under King Louis XV, *The Story of a Cat* by Emile de La Bédollière chronicles the life of Moumouth, a street cat rescued by the wealthy Countess Yolande de la Grenouillère. The Countess, a woman of immense charity who has lost numerous beloved pets to misfortune, adopts the starving and abused feline after a group of boys cruelly torment him. She names him Moumouth, derived from Hebrew words meaning 'saved from saucepans,' and entrusts his care to her maid, Mother Michel, while her steward, Father Lustucru, harbors a secret, malicious hatred for animals. Lustucru attempts various schemes to destroy Moumouth, driven by jealousy and malice. He tries to poison the cat's food, but Moumouth's keen senses detect the foul odor and refuse to eat. In another attempt, Lustucru topples a marble bust of Louis XIV onto the cat's bed, but the animal, possessing the light slumber typical of felines, wakes instantly to avoid the falling object. When a fortune-teller falsely claims Moumouth has been stolen, the cat breaks through a glass door to reunite with Mother Michel, exposing the deception. The steward's crimes are ultimately revealed when poisoned rat carcasses are found in the household, and witness testimony confirms his attempts to throw Moumouth from the bridge of Notre Dame. Humiliated and exposed, Lustucru flees, eventually meeting a tragic end at sea. Following the Countess's death, Mother Michel and Moumouth retire to a peaceful cottage. They raise a family of kittens, living out their days in happiness and mutual affection, proving that kindness and vigilance triumph over cruelty and deceit.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27472.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg27472.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-07-06 16:57 UTC

Categories

• Fiction
• Pets