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Chip Potts had formed a friendship with an orange tom he discovered while playing in the stables.
He named the cat - somewhat unimaginatively - Tiger, and at once set about asking his mum if he could keep Tiger with him.
Mrs Potts looked at Tiger contemplatively before declaring, "He can stay in the kitchen. I've been starting to see mice."
This was an arrangement that pleased both Tiger, who had a warm kitchen to curl up in and a sufficiency of rodents to hunt and otherwise terrorize, and Mrs Potts, who had a much-reduced rodent population in the kitchen which she was responsible for.
It pleased Chip rather less so, but since he played in the kitchen a certain amount of the time anyway, it mattered much less than it otherwise might.
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When the change came, it did not matter as much as both Chip and his mum had feared. It was true that the first time Chip came rattling up in his new cup-and-saucer form Tiger arched back and hissed at the strange creature in front of him, but then, when there were no hostile movements, Tiger leaned forward and sniffed.
There must have been something of Chip's scent there still, for Tiger at once relaxed and gave the cup a long lick.
"That tickles!" Chip exclaimed, laughing.
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After that, things went back to much as they had been before. Tiger hunted rodents in the kitchen and played with Chip as they explored the castle.
When Belle came, it didn't take long for her to endear herself to Tiger and for him to allow her to pet and stroke his orange-striped furr.
When Belle declared herself and the spell was broken, Tiger seemed to take the sudden reappearance of the humans in stride.
After all, he had a warm kitchen to curl up in, plenty of hunting, and treats and pets from the humans around him.
Truly, everything a cat could desire.
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