Corresponding Cats

By Allison Hill

Tigress Aurora was born in the wild and now lives in a zoo. She hates it. Shadow, a domestic cat, is
stuck at home while her injured leg heals. In their correspondence, the cats reflect on their loss of freedom and exchange views on the human race.  

As Corresponding Cats is set in summer 2020, our feline captives note with some irony how humans are coping with Covid and their own lockdown. Aurora also recalls life as a cub in the wild, being caught, and her journey via various sanctuaries to her current place of imprisonment. Shadow explains many aspects of today's world to Aurora, much of which she has learned from watching TV with her human companion, Guy. 

When Shadow grapples with the arrival of Liz, Guy's new girlfriend, it's Aurora's turn to offer wisdom and support. Aurora also has her own potential love interest to deal with, and the prospect of having cubs in captivity.

As they face these different challenges, Aurora and Shadow's observations are both thought provoking and entertaining.

Corresponding Cats is just under 10,000 words.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Allison Hill
• Release date: Nov 22, 2021
• ISBN: 9781916398016

Allison Hill

Allison writes both fiction and non-fiction.  Her works include poems, articles, short stories and full-length pieces. Her debut novel is on its way. Much of Allison’s work is social commentary. Having politically active parents formed the basis of her memoir Right to the End and sparked her interest in current affairs. Allison’s writing often features the environment and conservation, animal welfare, caring for the elderly and controversies around food and health. She likes to draw attention to these serious subjects, often lightened with touches of humour. Allison lives in Teddington with her two young cats, Muswell and Alfie. When not writing, she loves travelling to far-off places, especially if it involves photographing wildlife.

Book preview

The Letters

(Summer 2020)

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Hi Aurora,

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How's my favourite tiger? I've so missed seeing you.

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You won’t believe what’s happened. I was on my way to see you when I got hit by a car. Now I’m in my very own lockdown. Guy has shut me inside until I can walk better. My leg does hurt and it is hard to get about, but I was really looking forward to visiting you. It’s been far too long.

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I tried a few times to reach you, but my favourite way in was all boarded up. While I enjoy a good climb, that one was beyond me. I expect you’d have found it easy!

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I can’t imagine what lockdown was like for you. Was it good or bad when the zoo was shut? Let's hope you get this message and at least we can catch up.

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Shadow

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Good day, Shadow,

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I am truly happy to hear from you after so many moons.

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You have been hit by a car! How shocking to receive such news. I wondered why I had not seen you. I was not surprised you didn’t visit during that lockdown event. All around here was indeed soundly locked. But when things opened up, I worried for you. I thought perhaps the keepers had banished you, or even trapped you in a cage like the rest of us.

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My opinion of cars is not good. I saw many in the forest, crowded with humans, all clutching cameras as they chased some poor being. Mother taught us to lie low in these circumstances. It amused us to think the humans had no clue we were that close to them. Spotting two little tiger cubs would make their day – and ruin ours.

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You ask about my lockdown. As the humans say, it was really weird. I quite liked it, as I do not appreciate being locked up and stared at by people and their idiot children all day. It was so quiet. If I shut my eyes, it was like being back in the wild with my mother and brother. But, of course, I was not.

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The keepers often gave us treats and we had ice to lick on hot days, which was most pleasant. Then the people came back. All wearing masks. I must say those masks make them look even more stupid. Talking of stupid, some of my fellow beings missed the company of the visiting humans. Apparently, they enjoy the presence of such people. That is not my view, I can assure you.

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The keepers were happy too when this place reopened. They kept saying the zoo needs money or it might shut. What would they do then, I ask myself? Let us go free? That would be fine by me. As ever, it’s all about their money. Consider what it must