Annette Crosbie - Mrs McTats and Her Houseful of Cats CBeebies Bedtime Stories

.

So there's Twinkle and...

There's Fluffy and...

Oh, hello! I'm Annette.

I was just making sure that all of my cats were here

ready to listen to tonight's bedtime story.

Look, this is Twinkle.

And this is Fluffy, and...

I can't remember this one's name.

I wonder how Mrs McTats in tonight's bedtime story

remembers the names of her cats.

You see, she has lots and lots of cats

and they ALL live in her house.

The story is called Mrs McTats And Her Houseful Of Cats.

In a small cosy cottage lives Mrs McTats.

She lived all alone except for one cat.

Every morning, she left as the clock struck eight.

"To market, to market. I mustn't be late!"

She browsed through the market and chose a plump fish.

"For Abner and me, what a sumptuous dish."

But when she got home there came a scratch on the door,

and in walked two cats.

-Meow!

-Was there room for two more?

"Come in, my sweet dears," said Mrs McTats.

"I'm sure I've got room for just two more cats.

"I'll call you Basil.

"And Curly, you'll be.

"I only had one cat, but now I have three."

The very next morning, Mrs McTats woke early.

She stopped to pet Abner and Basil and Curly.

"To market, to market. I mustn't be late!

"This chicken, I think, will surely taste great."

But when she got home, there came a scratch on the door

-and in walked three cats.

-Meow!

-Was there room for three more?

"Come in, my sweet dears," said Mrs McTats.

"I think I've got room for three more cats.

"Now give me a moment. What shall your names be...?"

"You're Dolly. You're Ernest.

"And Fuzzy, makes three."

The very next morning, off went Mrs McTats.

"What can I buy for six hungry cats? I've got it!" she said.

"I'll make a nice stew."

So she carried home beef and liver to brew.

But back at home, there came a scratch at the door

-and in walked four cats.

-Meow!

-Was there room for four more?

"Come in, my sweet dears," said Mrs McTats

"I know there's a place for just four more cats.

"Ten's a fine number. Ten cats and me.

"I'll call you Goldie. And Herman, you'll be."

Izzy and Jezebel pranced across the floor.

-And then right behind them followed five more.

-Meow!

"Koko and Linus. Millie. Noreen. And you shall be Oscar.

"There, that makes 15!"

The very next day, off went Mrs McTats.

"What can I possibly feed 15 cats?"

She chose a fresh tuna. She chose a fine trout.

But when she came home, her cats were all out.

She counted her cats, from 1 to 15.

-But somehow six more cats had just joined the scene.

-Meow!

"Come, come, my sweet dears," said Mrs McTats.

"I'm sure I have plenty for 21 cats.

"Pip. Quip. And Rosebud.

"Sally. And Tosy. Ursula dear, do make yourself cosy."

But then came another scratch on the door.

Could it be more cats? How many more?

-Meow!

-In came Violet.

In came Winnie.

And, just behind, a kitten named Xinnie.

In came Yodel - the last of the bunch.

25 cats ready for lunch.

But something was missing.

What could it be?

Just what it was Mrs McTats could not see.

As she stood there, puzzling, there was a scratch on the door.

And Mrs McTats wondered could there really be more?

Could she squeeze in more cats?

More than 25?

Who was the one who was next to arrive?

"Come in, my sweet dear," said Mrs McTats.

"I live in this cottage with 25 cats.

"But if you don't mind, you're welcome to stay.

"You're welcome to eat, you're welcome to play.

Now in that small cottage lives Mrs McTats,

all happy and cosy with her 25 cats...

and one little puppy who's known as Zoom,

in a small cosy cottage with plenty of room.

And just when the clock strikes each morning at eight,

Mrs McTats hurries off.

"I mustn't be late! To market, to market, what treats will there be

"for 26 sweet dears from A to Z?"

And that story was called Mrs McTats And Her Houseful Of Cats.

So that's how Mrs McTats remembers all of her cats' names -

she's given them names starting with the letters of the alphabet.

And even called her puppy Zoom!

Maybe I should call my cats with names like that.

Do you think this cat could be called Algernon?

I need to think quite hard about their names, and while I do

it's time for you to go to bed.

I'll see you soon for another story. Night, night!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd