Toby, The Different Cat

The Odd Cat

May 04, 2025

Toby, The Different Cat

Once there was an adorable cat named Toby. His coat was shiny black, and he had sparkling green eyes that would shine in the dark. Because of his good eyes and strong legs, Toby could go anywhere he wanted, day or night. He could run after the leaves that blew down the street, jump high after fluttering butterflies, climb the highest tree in the neighborhood, not get stuck, and be unafraid to climb back down.

He should have been the happiest cat in the neighborhood, but something was wrong. He had a good home, and he was well-fed and cared for every day, but something was still wrong. Toby was getting sadder and sadder each day.

Toby had many cat friends to play with, but this is where the problems seemed to come from. The Yellow Cat that lived across the street in the brown house seemed to have started it when he asked Toby a question.

"How many mice did you catch last night, Toby?" Yellow Cat had asked.

Now, Toby was a good cat. He could run fast and could have caught several if he had wanted to, but Toby did not like to chase mice. He enjoyed playing all the other cat games, but did not like playing "Catch the Mouse."

Yellow Cat told Spotted Cat with the stubby tail that Toby disliked playing "Catch the Mouse." Then the Spotted Cat with the stubby tail told Fluffy White Cat that lived next door that Toby disliked playing "Catch the Mouse." So soon, all of Toby's friends knew his secret. Toby's secret was out. He did not think it was too bad, though, because he thought it was nice to be different.

Toby was saddest when all the neighbor cats would no longer be his friends because he was different and disliked playing "Catch the Mouse." Toby's friends would not let him play the other cat games with them. Each day, he got sadder and sadder. Soon, he felt like running away.

So one day, he did. As Toby sadly walked down a quiet road, he walked under a tall tree. In this tall tree was an old owl named "Who" that didn't have his eyes closed. Who, the owl, noticed that Toby was sad.

"What makes a lovely looking cat, such as you, so sad?" Who spoke up and asked?

Toby answered, "I don't like to play 'Catch the Mouse,' so all my friends made fun of me and won't let me play any other cat games with them."

"That seems like a terrible thing to do. Every cat should be able to do the things he likes to do and not have to be the same as every other cat." Who then said.

"That's what I thought at first and was thrilled when I felt I was special because I didn't like to chase mice but Yellow Cat told Spotted Cat I didn't like to chase mice and Spotted Cat told Fluffy White Cat that I didn't like to chase mice. Then no one would be my friend or let me play any cat games with them. They said I was different."

Then Who, as he turned his head slightly, said, "It is alright if every cat is different. Did you know that Yellow Cat, Spotted Cat and Fluffy White Cat are all different?"

"No. I only thought I was different so I couldn’t play with them anymore, and that made me sad," said Toby.

"Let me tell you how they are different," said Who, opening his eyes wide to look wise. "First, there is Yellow Cat. Did you know Yellow Cat doesn't like to drink milk?" asked Who? "Yellow Cat says it makes his whiskers too hard to keep clean so that he won't drink milk."

"That is really different for a cat," said Toby.

"And also," said Who as he continued, "Spotted Cat just can't stand to lie down in the sunshine. He says it makes him too hot."

"Boy, I never heard of a cat who didn't like to lie in the sun. Spotted Cat sure is different, too," Toby exclaimed, getting excited.

“Now don’t get too excited,” said Who. "Wait until you hear what makes Fluffy White Cat so different. Fluffy White Cat does not like to run and play in piles of leaves because she says it is too hard for her to keep her long white fur clean.”

"Boy, now that is being different. Whoever heard of any cat not wanting to roll around in a pile of leaves and chasing them when the wind blows them? I guess I don't need to be sad anymore about being different."

"Yes," said Who. "You should be happy that you are different, but you have one hard job ahead of you."

"What job is that?" Toby questioned.

"Well, Toby," said Who looking down sadly at Toby. "You have to go back to Yellow Cat, Spotted Cat, and Fluffy White Cat and help them learn they are all different but that you can still be friends and play together even if each one is different."

Toby, The Cat Story, was written in 1987 or 88 while at Crossroads Christian School. The teacher gave the kids a writing assignment for class, and as the kids worked on theirs, this is what I wrote. I was their substitute teacher for the day. I don't remember if I read my story to the class before I dismissed them. I have revised this story somewhat from the original.

Larry Publication

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