Episode 8: Missing Mittens

Hi there, and welcome back to Classes with Cass—the podcast where you learn English through stories! I’m your host, Cass, and today’s story is about something many people can relate to—losing a pet. Whether it’s a dog, a cat, or even a hamster, pets are part of our families, and when they go missing… it can be heartbreaking.

In this episode, you’ll hear vocabulary related to pets, emotions, and community action. If you’d like to follow along, you can find the full transcript at classeswithcass.com.

Are you ready? Let’s begin. 

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Noah opened his eyes to bright morning sunlight streaming through the curtains. He stretched, sat up, and looked over at the windowsill.

Empty.

That was strange. His cat, Mittens, always sat on the windowsill in the morning, watching birds or chasing shadows on the glass.

“Mittens?” he called, rubbing his eyes.

No answer.

He got out of bed and walked around the apartment. He checked the usual spots first: under the bed, behind the curtains, inside the laundry basket. Still nothing.

“Mittens, come on,” he said, starting to feel a little uneasy. He even opened a can of her favourite tuna. Normally, the sound of the can opening made her come running.

Still nothing.

Noah’s heart began to race.

He slipped on his shoes—no time for socks—and rushed outside in his pajamas. The morning air was cool, and the streets were quiet. He walked around the block, calling her name over and over.

“Mittens? Miiiiiittens?”

He asked a neighbour watering her plants, “Have you seen a grey-and-white cat?”

She shook her head. “No, sorry, sweetheart. But I’ll keep an eye out.”

Back home, Noah started printing flyers. He used a photo of Mittens curled up in a cardboard box with her little pink nose peeking out. He wrote in big, bold letters:

LOST CAT – Her name is Mittens. Grey and white. Very friendly. Please call Noah at 555-0193.

He taped the flyers to every streetlight, mailbox, and community board in the neighbourhood. He left one with the lady at the corner bakery, another with the guy at the convenience store, and even one at the vet clinic.

Hours passed. Nothing.

At lunch, his best friend Maya came over.

“Any news?” she asked.

Noah shook his head. “I feel so helpless. What if she’s hurt? Or stuck somewhere?”

Maya handed him a bottle of water. “Let’s check the alley behind your building. Cats love hiding in weird places.”

They searched for over an hour—checking under cars, behind garbage bins, and even up in the trees.

By late afternoon, Noah felt exhausted and worried. He called the animal shelter.

“No grey-and-white cat has come in today,” the volunteer said gently. “But leave your number in case someone finds her.”

Noah left his info and hung up, trying not to cry.

That evening, he sat on the porch with a can of tuna next to him. He watched the sun dip lower in the sky.

He whispered to himself, “Please come back, Mittens. Please be okay.”

The minutes crawled by. The tuna sat untouched.

Then… just as the sky turned orange and purple… he heard it.

A soft, familiar meow.

Noah jumped up. “Mittens?!”

Another meow—closer this time.

He turned toward the fence—and there she was.

Mittens was sitting on the wooden fence behind the garden, tail swishing. She looked perfectly fine—just a little dusty.

“Oh my gosh!” Noah cried. He ran over and scooped her up. “Where have you been?!”

Mittens meowed again and rubbed her head against his chin.

He laughed through tears. “Don’t ever do that again.”

Inside, he gave her fresh water, cleaned her fur with a towel, and finally sat on the couch with her curled up in his lap.

Later that night, as she purred softly beside him, Noah smiled. “You’re grounded,” he whispered. “But I’m so glad you’re home.”

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Let’s go over some of the useful vocabulary and phrases from today’s episode:

• Windowsill – the ledge at the bottom of a window

• Meow – the sound a cat makes

• Purr – the soft, happy sound that cats make

• Laundry basket – a container where you keep dirty clothes

• Flyer – a piece of paper with important information

• Animal shelter – a place that takes care of lost animals

• Alley – a narrow path between buildings

• Grounded – a way to say someone is in “trouble” and cannot leave their house (often used by parents)

  
  

  Say these sentences out loud:

• “I’m looking for my cat.”

• “She went missing yesterday.”

• “I posted flyers in my neighbourhood.”

• “I was so relieved when she came back.”

  
  

Write or speak about a time you lost something important—maybe your phone or a wallet. What did you do? How did you feel?

Thanks for tuning in to Classes with Cass! Today’s story was a reminder of how much we love the little ones in our lives—even the furry ones who give us a scare sometimes.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, share it with a friend, or replay it to practice your new words.

And hey—maybe give your pet an extra treat today.

Until next time, keep learning, keep growing, and always keep a can of tuna handy… just in case.

See you soon!