Aesop
|
Greece

The Cat and The Birds

A clever Cat dressed as a doctor to catch the Birds in an aviary, but the Birds outsmarted him and stayed safe.
Deception
Wisdom
Trust
Aesop's Fables - The Cat and The Birds
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, there was a clever Cat who lived near a town. This town had a beautiful place called an aviary, filled with happy, singing Birds.

One day, the Cat heard that the Birds might be sick. He thought this was a chance to catch them. So, he dressed up like a doctor with a white coat, a cane, and a bag of tools.

The Cat went to the aviary and knocked on the door. He said, "How are you, dear Birds? I am a doctor and I can make you feel better."

Inside, the Birds knew the Cat was trying to trick them. They weren't sick at all. They replied, "We are very well, thank you. Please go away and let us be."

The Cat, his plan ruined, left with an empty stomach. The Birds stayed safe in their aviary and kept singing their lovely songs. They knew they had to be smart and watch out for the tricky Cat, who learned that disguises don't always work.

Once upon a time, there was a clever Cat who lived near a town. In this town, there was a beautiful place called an aviary. This aviary was filled with happy Birds that sang sweet songs.

One day, the Cat heard that the Birds might be sick. He saw this as a chance to catch them. So, he dressed up like a doctor. He wore a white coat, carried a cane, and had a bag of doctor tools.

The Cat went to the aviary and knocked on the door. He said, "Hello, dear Birds! I am a doctor, and I can help you feel better."

Inside the aviary, the Birds knew the Cat was trying to trick them. They were not sick at all. They answered, "We are very well, thank you. Please go away and leave us alone."

The Cat, with his plan ruined, left with an empty stomach. The Birds stayed safe in their aviary and kept singing their lovely songs. They knew they had to be smart and watch out for the tricky Cat.

Once upon a time, there was a clever Cat who lived near a town. In this town, there was a beautiful place called an aviary. This aviary was filled with happy Birds that sang sweet songs.

One day, the Cat heard that the Birds might be sick. He saw this as a chance to catch them. So, he dressed up like a doctor. He wore a white coat, carried a cane, and had a bag of doctor tools.

The Cat went to the aviary and knocked on the door. He said, "Hello, dear Birds! I am a doctor, and I can help you feel better."

Inside the aviary, the Birds knew the Cat was trying to trick them. They were not sick at all. They answered, "We are very well, thank you. Please go away and leave us alone."

The Cat, with his plan ruined, left with an empty stomach. The Birds stayed safe in their aviary and kept singing their lovely songs. They knew they had to be smart and watch out for the tricky Cat.

Once upon a time, not too far from a little town, there was a Cat who thought he was as cool as a superhero. Smooth, funny, and oh-so-sneaky. This town had an amazing place filled with Birds, kind of like a big birdie playground.

"Ah, the birdie playground," the Cat thought, "it's like a big party, and everyone's invited—especially me!"

Then, he heard some rumors that the Birds might be feeling sick. "Oh boy, this is my chance!" he thought, like seeing a big "FREE CANDY" sign at a store.

So, the Cat did some dress-up. He found a white coat that was way too big for him, took a stick from the yard to use as a cane, and filled a bag with really silly stuff like a toy chicken and a pretend doctor's thingy from his toy box. "Doctor Cat is ready for action!" he cheered to himself.

Strutting over to the birdie playground, he knocked on the door like he was the star of the show. "Hey there, everybody! Who needs a check-up?"

Inside, the Birds looked at each other like they were watching a really funny cartoon. "Um, you're not a real doctor, are you?" chirped one of the Birds.

"We're totally fine, so go away!" another Bird added, flapping its wings like it was saying "bye-bye."

"No one has the sniffles? Not even a tiny sneeze?" the Cat tried again, really hoping they'd say yes.

"Nope. Zero. Now, shoo!" the Birds answered back.

The Cat, plan all messed up like a bad drawing, walked away with his belly still empty. "Well, you can't win 'em all," he muttered, "but there's always tomorrow!"

The Birds kept on singing their happy songs and flapping around, super glad they had outsmarted a Cat who thought he was smarter than everyone.

And as the sun went down, everyone learned a little something. Like, just because someone shows up with a funny coat and a toy chicken doesn't mean they're a doctor! And for the Cat, well, he went home thinking maybe he should try being funny for real, instead of just trying to be sneaky.

Clever Cat lived near a town,
By an aviary of great renown.
Birds there lived in joyful state,
Singing dawn till evening late.

Whispers came of sickness near,
Cat thought, "Ah, my chance is clear!"
Dressed as doctor, cane in paw,
Went to the aviary, without a flaw.

"Dear Birds," he said, "no need for fright,
I’m Doctor Cat, I'll make it right."
Bag of tools and coat so grand,
He knocked and waited, cane in hand.

Birds inside saw through the guise,
Met Cat's words with savvy eyes.
"Thanks, Doc Cat, we're well, you see,
No need for medical decree."

Cat's plan failed, he walked away,
Empty-stomached yet today.
Birds kept singing, safe and sound,
In their home where love was found.

Each learned something on this day,
In this life-sized, feathery fray.
Birds stayed wise to tricks and plots,
And Cat found out he'd missed his shots.

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Word Finder

  1. Aviary

    A place where many birds are kept.

  2. Clever

    Very smart and good at solving problems.

  3. Chance

    Opportunity to do something.

  4. Sick

    Feeling unwell or having an illness.

  5. Trick

    To deceive or fool someone.

  6. Tools

    Items used to fix or make things.

  7. Knocked

    Made a sound to ask for entrance.

  8. Doctor

    A person who helps people feel better.

  9. Cane

    A stick used to help someone walk.

  10. Ruined

    Destroyed or made unsuccessful.

Understanding Questions

  1. Why did the Cat decide to dress up like a doctor?
  2. What did the Cat carry with him to look like a doctor?
  3. How did the Birds react when the Cat said he was a doctor?
  4. Why did the Cat leave the aviary with an empty stomach?
  5. What lesson did the Birds learn from their encounter with the Cat?

Word Finder

  1. Aviary

    A place where many birds are kept.

  2. Clever

    Very smart and good at solving problems.

  3. Chance

    Opportunity to do something.

  4. Sick

    Feeling unwell or having an illness.

  5. Trick

    To deceive or fool someone.

  6. Tools

    Items used to fix or make things.

  7. Knocked

    Made a sound to ask for entrance.

  8. Doctor

    A person who helps people feel better.

  9. Cane

    A stick used to help someone walk.

  10. Ruined

    Destroyed or made unsuccessful.

Understanding Questions

  1. Why did the Cat decide to dress up like a doctor?
  2. What did the Cat carry with him to look like a doctor?
  3. How did the Birds react when the Cat said he was a doctor?
  4. Why did the Cat leave the aviary with an empty stomach?
  5. What lesson did the Birds learn from their encounter with the Cat?

Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think the Cat wanted to disguise himself as a doctor?
  2. How did the Birds know that the Cat was trying to trick them?
  3. Can you think of a time when you or someone else was clever enough to see through a trick or a lie?
  4. What does this story teach us about being cautious and not believing everything we're told right away?
  5. How can we use the lesson from this story in our own lives to be more aware and careful?

Fable Quotes

Disguises may deceive the eyes, but truth unveils the cleverest of lies.
Wisdom is the ability to discern truth.”
In the face of deceit, trust your instincts to safeguard what is dear.
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