Catvinkle led Ula upstairs, where Mr Sabatini had just finished cutting the children’s hair. The children were sitting next to each other in the hallway, swinging their legs, looking bored and maybe even a little sad while their aunt talked to Mr Sabatini.

‘The weather is so surprising for this time of year. I didn’t expect it to start raining cats and dogs,’ the aunt was saying, just as Catvinkle and Ula walked into the salon. The appearance of the cat and dog just at that moment made the children laugh.

‘Well, that’s quite an entrance,’ said Mr Sabatini.

‘I didn’t know you had a dog, Mr Sabatini,’ said Anja, the young girl.

‘To tell you the truth, Anja, neither did I and neither did Catvinkle. We just met this morning and here we are. But you two seem to be getting on all right,’ said Mr Sabatini, addressing his comments to both Catvinkle and Ula. At this Catvinkle meowed and rubbed the side of her body up against Mr Sabatini’s leg.

‘I think that means “yes”, Mr Sabatini,’ said Anja’s brother, Ferdi.

‘Or perhaps that she wants some food,’ said Mr Sabatini.

Catvinkle was enjoying showing Ula around the salon. In fact, she realised to her own amazement that she really did want Ula to stay. Was it because of the musky smell? Yes, that was definitely a big part of it. But there was more to Catvinkle’s decision to welcome the dog.

Much to Catvinkle’s surprise, she found herself enjoying the company of this very polite Dalmatian. It was much better than being alone so much of the time. She imagined it might be fun to have a friend to play with inside the house.

Ula was a dog and this might cause problems for Catvinkle if other cats found out. But Catvinkle decided that in front of any nosy cats or kittens she could just pretend that living with this dog had been forced on her by her human. She could tell another cat, ‘It wasn’t my idea but Mr Sabatini wanted a dog so much that I finally said “yes”. You have to give humans their own way every now and then, you know.’

Of course, the Dalmatian would have to be trained. Dogs weren’t as naturally good as cats at living inside and with people. They don’t always know when to shut up, she thought, as Ula put her snout to Catvinkle’s ear.

‘Food?’ Ula coughed in what sounded to the humans like a little bark.

Catvinkle turned her neck around so she was facing Ula. ‘I’m working on it,’ she whispered.

Then she rubbed the top of her head against the lower part of Mr Sabatini’s leg.

‘Oh, I definitely know what this means!’ Mr Sabatini said. ‘Catvinkle is hungry, and I’m sure her new friend, Ula, is too.’

Mr Sabatini excused himself from the aunt for just long enough to go to the kitchen. He filled Catvinkle’s bowl with delicious pink salmon caught in the sea only the day before. He put more in another bowl for Ula, saying to her, ‘I’m sorry, Ula, I didn’t know you were coming so I don’t have anything especially for dogs. I hope you enjoy the salmon. Catvinkle thinks it’s delicious, don’t you?’

Again, Catvinkle rubbed the top of her head against the lower part of Mr Sabatini’s leg to show that she did, indeed, think it extremely delicious.

‘I’d better get back to the salon and redo the aunt’s hair. She’s changed her mind and now wants a beehive, and that can take a lot of time. I think Anja and Ferdi are keen to get home. I’d hoped their new haircuts would make them happier but I don’t think the haircuts have helped very much. Perhaps you two could come and spend some time with the children, once you’ve finished your snack?’

Mr Sabatini left the kitchen and went back to the salon.

‘A beehive! Who wears a beehive on their head? I’ve never heard of such a thing!’ said Ula.

‘You’re quite right about that, Ulee,’ Catvinkle agreed. ‘Best not to think about someone putting a house for stinging insects on their head. Let’s think about food instead.’

The two animals sniffed their bowls, Catvinkle with pleasure and Ula with suspicion.

‘So this is salmon?’ asked Ula.

‘Yes,’ said Catvinkle. ‘It’s not herring, which is my favourite, but this is one of my favourites. Mr Sabatini knows I like it so he gets it for me. He gives the fishermen haircuts and in return they deliver fresh fish. It’s a marvellous situation for a cat to be in. Why don’t you try some?’

Ula was very hungry, but she’d never eaten salmon before and was a bit frightened to try it.

‘Do cats eat salmon a lot?’ she asked Catvinkle.

‘As much as we can,’ answered Catvinkle. ‘We love it.’

‘Catvinkle?’ Ula began.

Catvinkle was burying her face in the salmon as deeply as she could. ‘Yes, Ulee,’ came her salmon-coated voice from the bottom of her bowl.

‘Catvinkle, do you think that if I eat the salmon I’ll become …’ Ula couldn’t finish the question.

‘Become what, Ulee?’

‘Do you think I’ll become … a bit like a cat?’

‘I wish it were that simple,’ answered Catvinkle. ‘It would make things a lot easier if just by eating salmon we could turn you into a cat. Then I could take you out with me into the town. I could take you to Kittens Anonymous and you could even be my partner in the National Kitten Baby-Shoe Dancing Competition. I’m invited with a guest, you know.’

‘But I like going to Puppies Anonymous,’ said Ula.

‘That’s not a place for cats,’ said Catvinkle, lifting her head just for a moment from the salmon and shaking it. ‘It’s full of dogs!’

‘But I’m not a cat!’ protested Ula.

‘Sadly, no. But try the salmon anyway. You’ll love it. Don’t you like trying new things?’

‘Not sure. I never choose to try new things but sometimes I just have to. Do you like trying new things?’ asked Ula.

‘Oh yes. Sometimes I’ll take my water before my salmon and sometimes I’ll take my water after my salmon. A couple of times – and this will blow your mind – I’ve started my salmon then had a few licks of water and then gone back to my salmon, licking the bowl clean with both sides of my tongue. Crazy, I know! But I’m that kind of cat. I live on the edge!’

‘My goodness, you’re so adventurous!’ exclaimed Ula.

‘What can I say?’ said Catvinkle. ‘I’m very lucky to lead such an interesting life. Are you going to eat that lovely pink salmon, Ulee? No pressure, but if you’re not …’

For the first time ever, Ula put her snout into a bowl of salmon. Sniff, sniff, she went. Then she put her tongue on it, just a bit. Then a bit more. Then she took a little bite. Then she took a big bite. In fact, it was such a big bite that she cleaned her bowl of every bit of salmon right then and there. Catvinkle was amazed. She had never seen salmon disappear so quickly.

‘Wow, Ulee, they can’t even swim that fast!’

‘It was delicious!’ said Ula.

‘I’m so glad you liked it. I think you’re really going to enjoy living here,’ Catvinkle said.