The Master Cat, or Puss in Boots - As Told by the Brothers Grimm

Oct 19, 2026

Upload by James

A miller’s three sons receive little fortune—only an ass, a cat, and the third son’s burden of having nothing. The cat’s shrewd planning, including requests for boots and a bag, enables him to hunt and bring game to the king under the master’s name. Through staged “rescues,” theft accusations, and carefully managed appearances, the marquis of Carabas gains royal favor and property. The story follows the cat’s tactics as the marquis wins the princess’s love.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Story

The miller’s division and the unhappy youngest son

The cat’s scheme: boots, bag, and hunting

Gifts to the king

The river rescue and stolen clothes

Winning the princess through staged appearances

[www.](www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com)[STUDENTHANDOUTS](www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com)[.com](www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com) THE MASTER CAT, OR PUSS IN BOOTS. As Told by the Brothers Grimm Once upon a time there was a miller who left no more riches to the three sons he had than his mill, his ass, and his cat. The division was soon made. Neither the lawyer nor the attorney was sent for. They would soon have eaten up all the poor property. The eldest had themill, the second the ass, and the youngest nothing but the cat. The youngest, as we can understand, was quite unhappy at having so poor a share. "My brothers," said he, "may get their living handsomely enough by joining their stocks together; but, for my part, when I have eaten up my cat, and made me a muff of his skin, I must die of hunger." The Cat, who heard all this, without appearing to take any notice, said to him with a grave and serious air: "Do not thus afflict yourself, my master; you have nothing else to do but to give me a bag, and get a pair of boots made for me, that I may scamper through the brambles, and you shall see that you have not so poor a portion in me as you think." Though the Cat's master did not think much of what he said, he had seen him play such cunning tricks to catch rats and mice—hanging himself by the heels, or hiding himself in the meal, to make believe he was dead—that he did not altogether despair of his helping him in his misery. When the Cat had what he asked for, he booted himself very gallantly, and putting his bag about his neck, he held the strings of it in his two forepaws, and went into a warren where was a great number of rabbits. He put bran and sow-thistle into his bag, and, stretching out at length, as if he were dead, he waited for some young rabbits, not yet acquainted with the deceits of the world, to come and rummage his bag for what he had put into it. Scarcely was he settled but he had what he wanted. A rash and foolish young rabbit jumped into his bag, and Monsieur Puss, immediately drawing close the strings, took him and killed him at once. Proud of his prey, he went with it to the palace, and asked to speak with the King. He was shown upstairs into his Majesty's apartment, and, making a low bow to the King, he said: "I have brought you, sire, a rabbit which my noble Lord, the Master of Carabas," (for that was the title which Puss Free Printables and More for K-12 Education [www.](www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com)[STUDENTHANDOUTS](www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com)[.com](www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com) was pleased to give his master), "has commanded me to present to your Majesty from him." "Tell thy master," said the King,"that I thank him, and that I am pleased with his gift." Another time he went and hid himself among some standing corn, still holding his bag open; and when a brace of partridges ran into it, he drew the strings, and so caught them both. He then went and made a present of these to the King, as he had done before of the rabbit which he took in the warren. The King, in like manner, received the partridges with great pleasure, and ordered his servants to reward him. The Cat continued for two or three months thus to carry his Majesty, from time to time, some of his master's game. One day when he knew that the King was to take the air along the riverside, with his daughter, the most beautiful princess in the world, he said to his master: "If you will follow my advice, your fortune is made. You have nothing else todo but go and bathe in the river, just at the spot I shall show you, and leave the rest tome." The Marquis of Carabas did what the Cat advised him to, without knowing what could be the use of doing it. While he was bathing, the King passed by, and the Cat cried out with all his might: "Help! Help! My Lord the Marquis of Carabas is drowning!" At this noise the King put his head out of the coach window, and seeing the Cat who had so often brought him game, he commanded his guards to run immediately to the ass

FAQs

What does the youngest son fear when the family wealth is divided?

He believes that after he eats the cat and makes a muff from its skin, he will die of hunger.

How does the cat secure recognition from the king?

He hunts rabbits and partridges and presents them as gifts from the master, asking to speak with the king each time.

What plan helps the marquis of Carabas gain higher status and win the princess?

The cat engineers a river incident where the marquis appears to be saved from drowning and also arranges the return of stolen clothes, leading to royal favor and attraction from the princess.

Oct 19, 2026

Upload by James