When the Cat Wore Boots

Robbie had always known that his cat, Daisy, was a little... different. For one, she insisted on wearing clothes. Not just cute little sweaters like other pets, but actual human clothes. Robbie’s boots, his dad’s shirts, his mom’s scarves—if it fit (or even if it didn’t), Daisy wore it.

“Mom, she’s doing it again!” Robbie yelled one morning as Daisy paraded into the kitchen wearing his Superman underwear, one leg through the wrong hole, and his black boots clomping loudly on the tile floor.

“Oh, Daisy,” his mom said, trying to stifle a laugh. “Why can’t you just be a normal cat?”

But Daisy didn’t care about being normal. She struck a dramatic pose, flicked her tail, and meowed proudly as if to say, “Normal is boring.”

The School Incident

Things got out of hand when Daisy decided to follow Robbie to school. She snuck out the door just as he was leaving, wearing a tiny blue cape she’d stolen from his action figure set and, of course, his beloved black boots. She trotted into the classroom behind him, clomping loudly across the floor.

“Robbie, is that your cat?” his teacher, Mrs. Fletcher, asked, looking both amused and horrified.

“Nope,” Robbie said, sinking into his seat. “Never seen her before in my life.”

But Daisy wasn’t about to be ignored. She leaped onto Mrs. Fletcher’s desk, twirled in her boots, and plopped down in the middle of the spelling test papers. The class erupted into laughter. Robbie wanted to disappear.

Other Daisy Disasters

It wasn’t just school. Daisy had a knack for embarrassing the family in the most outrageous ways:

  • She once showed up at the neighbor’s barbecue wearing Mom’s yoga pants (which she had somehow managed to pull halfway up her legs) and a glittery top.

  • At Christmas, Daisy wore Robbie’s dad’s tie and climbed to the top of the tree. “I’m the star now!” she seemed to say as ornaments crashed to the floor.

  • One morning, Daisy snuck out to the park in a tracksuit and Robbie’s tennis shoes. She spent the day racing kids on the playground and taking selfies with confused parents.

Acceptance and a Wardrobe of Her Own

At first, the family tried to stop Daisy’s antics. They locked the closet doors, hid their clothes, and even tried giving her a stack of old towels to play with. But Daisy wouldn’t settle. She wanted real clothes—fabulous clothes.

Eventually, the family gave in. “She’s not hurting anyone,” Mom said one day. “Why not just let her be herself?”

So, they bought Daisy her own wardrobe. She had tiny sweaters, mini jackets, and even a pair of sunglasses that made her look like a celebrity. Robbie’s mom started taking Daisy to the nail salon for “paw-dicures,” where Daisy would lounge on a chair and purr contentedly while getting her claws painted.

Robbie still thought it was ridiculous, especially when Daisy insisted on wearing a sequined gown to his soccer game. “She’s stealing my spotlight,” he grumbled as Daisy strutted up and down the bleachers.

But deep down, even Robbie had to admit that Daisy was one-of-a-kind. “At least she keeps life interesting,” he said, watching Daisy pose for a group of tourists at the park.

Phrasal Verbs & Example Sentences

Show up – To arrive unexpectedly.

  • Example: “Daisy showed up at the barbecue wearing Mom’s yoga pants.”

Clomp around – To walk heavily or noisily.

  • Example: “She clomped around the house in Robbie’s boots.”

Give in – To stop resisting.

  • Example: “Eventually, the family gave in and bought Daisy her own wardrobe.”

Try on – To put on clothes to see if they fit.

  • Example: “Daisy tried on Robbie’s Superman underwear.”

Sneak out – To leave quietly and secretly.

  • Example: “Daisy sneaked out to the park in a tracksuit.”

Phrasal Verbs

Fill in the Blank with Phrasal Verbs

  1. Daisy loved to ________ Robbie’s clothes, no matter how ridiculous they looked.

  2. She ________ to the park in Robbie’s tennis shoes and raced the kids.

  3. The family finally had to ________ and let Daisy wear whatever she wanted.

  4. At the barbecue, Daisy ________ wearing Mom’s yoga pants.

  5. Daisy often ________ the house noisily in oversized boots.

Answers: Phrasal Verbs

  1. Try on

  2. Sneak out

  3. Give in

  4. Showed up

  5. Clomped around

Idioms & Example Sentences

Steal the spotlight – To attract all the attention.

  • Example: “Daisy stole the spotlight at Robbie’s soccer game.”

The cat’s out of the bag – A secret has been revealed.

  • Example: “When Daisy showed up at school, the cat was out of the bag.”

Put your best paw forward – To make a good impression.

  • Example: “Daisy always put her best paw forward when dressing up.”

Dressed to the nines – Wearing very fashionable clothes.

  • Example: “Daisy was dressed to the nines in her sequined gown.”

Laughing stock – Someone who is ridiculed.

  • Example: “At first, Robbie thought Daisy would make him the laughing stock of the school.”

Idiom Quiz

Fill in the Blank with Idioms

  1. Daisy ________ in her sequined dress at Robbie’s soccer game.

  2. When she wore yoga pants to the barbecue, she became the ________ of the neighborhood.

  3. At the nail salon, Daisy always ________ to impress the staff.

  4. When she followed Robbie to school, the ________ and everyone found out about her antics.

  5. Robbie worried she would ________, but everyone loved her instead.

Answers: Idioms

  1. Stole the spotlight

  2. Laughing stock

  3. Put her best paw forward

  4. Cat’s out of the bag

  5. Make him the laughing stock

Multiple-Choice Questions

Circle the correct answer.

  1. Why did Daisy wear human clothes?
    a. She thought they were fun.
    b. She wanted to be human.
    c. She needed to stay warm.
    d. She was allergic to fur.

  2. What embarrassing thing did Daisy do at Robbie’s school?
    a. Wore a Superman cape and boots.
    b. Stole his lunch.
    c. Took a nap on the teacher’s desk.
    d. Meowed loudly during class.

  3. How did the family try to stop Daisy at first?
    a. They hid their clothes.
    b. They made her wear towels.
    c. They locked her in a room.
    d. Both a and b.

  4. What finally made the family accept Daisy’s behavior?
    a. She stopped wearing clothes.
    b. They realized it wasn’t hurting anyone.
    c. She promised to behave.
    d. She apologized.

  5. What did Daisy wear to the park?
    a. A sequined dress.
    b. A tracksuit and tennis shoes.
    c. Robbie’s soccer uniform.
    d. A cowboy hat and boots.

  6. How did Daisy embarrass the family at Christmas?
    a. She climbed the tree wearing a tie.
    b. She knocked over the ornaments.
    c. She wore a Santa costume.
    d. She ate all the cookies.

  7. What was Daisy’s favorite thing about her new wardrobe?
    a. The sunglasses.
    b. The tracksuits.
    c. The sparkly dresses.
    d. All of the above.

  8. Where did Daisy love to go with Robbie’s mom?
    a. The nail salon.
    b. The grocery store.
    c. The library.
    d. School events.

  9. How did Robbie feel about Daisy’s antics?
    a. He loved them.
    b. He was embarrassed at first but eventually found it funny.
    c. He ignored her.
    d. He wanted her to stop completely.

  10. What lesson did the family learn?
    a. It’s okay to be different.
    b. Cats shouldn’t wear clothes.
    c. Never leave clothes out.
    d. Always lock the closet.

Answers: Multiple-Choice Questions

  1. b - She wanted to be human.

  2. a - Wore a Superman cape and boots.

  3. d - Both a and b.

  4. b - They realized it wasn’t hurting anyone.

  5. b - A tracksuit and tennis shoes.

  6. a - She climbed the tree wearing a tie.

  7. d - All of the above.

  8. a - The nail salon.

  9. b - He was embarrassed at first but eventually found it funny.

  10. a - It’s okay to be different.

Thought-Provoking Question

  • Do you think the family made the right decision by letting Daisy be herself, even if it was unconventional?

  • Why or why not?