Meet Scarlett, the adorably friendly, nosy, gossipy klepto-kitty!
This WHISKER WISDOM CATERVIEW is with Scarlett, an adorable klepto cat who briefly appears at the end of SUMMONING CALLIE (publishing date 2026).
When Scarlett first appeared, we knew little about her. It wasn’t until the second story that we even knew her name. We trusted Wishes, the time traveler cat you met last month, made the right choice as his replacement.
Wishes’s retirement from time travel surprised me and his humans.
He explained that the exhausting commute between the 21st and 18th centuries would be his last. He returned to the 1700s permanently, but before he left, he hand-picked Scarlett to oversee the Riley family, especially Calandra (Callie) Riley.
He had more faith than the family that he’d made the right choice. Callie thought maybe the adorable little kitten wasn’t magical at all until Scarlett spoke for the first time.
Scarlett is the most social of the cats in my stories. The little cuddle magnet is downright nosy. Arranging this Caterview was easy. Keeping her on track? Not so much.
The little tortie jumped into my lap and settled into a comfy position. Her purr button was going a mile a minute as we began.
ME: Scarlett, I think we should establish some ground rules. Everyone knows you as the gossip empress, so would you agree not to share things that might embarrass your humans?
SCARLETT (casting a slant-eyed stare up at me): Even if I change their names?
ME: Nope. Not even that.
S: This might be a short discussion, then.
ME: I think we’ll be fine. You came into the Riley family after Wishes had been with every generation for centuries. What was the hardest thing for you as a newcomer?
S: Oh, my. Figuring out who was who. Wishes wanted me to be Callie’s familiar, but he didn’t stick around long enough to draw an organization chart. I’d just started to bond with Callie and Reid when they went on their honeymoon. They left me with Callie’s cousin a real space qu—
ME: Scarlett!
S: (with an undeniable squinty frown) It’s not gossip when it’s eye-witness truth! Okay, she means well. Bless her heart. She’s certainly intelligent. But the commonsense fairy passed her by. She had this ridiculous idea that when she said “love,” all the power would go off—nonsensical coincidences. But if I hadn’t been there as the matchmaker, she and that hunky electrician would have never got together.
ME: You have to admit; those coincidences were remarkable. Anyway, Theo’s magical dolls played a part, too. You left that part out.
S: Those dolls! They are the craziest part of this household. Callie and her mother make and sell these funky match-making dolls in their pottery shop. The first time I heard a doll talk, I thought I was going crazy.
ME: Ah hum. You, the talking cat, were surprised that a doll speaks?
S: Helllloowww! I’m a cat, not a clay-headed, beady-eyed, buck-toothed doll!
ME: Excuse me all to pieces. As I understand it, you are part of the reason convinced Callie and Reid that they were destined to be together. True?
S: I’ll admit there was some magic involved.
ME: No doubt. But there’s one thing I think our readers would like to know more about. Apparently, you’re a bit of a klepto-kitty.
S: (another squinty frown) I have a few flaws. Like you’re perfect?
ME: I’m far from perfect, Scarlett. But how on earth do you accumulate the things you do? I’ve heard about your stash of seashells, refrigerator magnets, restaurant menus, sports jerseys, a hairstylist’s special scissors, work gloves…
S: Okay. Okay. They get the idea. I prefer the title of eclectic collector. And I see you rolling your eyes! Look, it’s stressful living up to Wishes’ expectations. He had centuries on me. I need an outlet.
ME: Hunting vermin might be more helpful. They humans wouldn’t have to worry about finding the owners of your collectibles. Remember when you took a little kid’s stuffed animal and how long it took to find the child who lost it?
S: (shudders) I found it in the park. For Pete’s sake, I didn’t steal it from a child! I’m a lot of things, but not a thief. And you’ve undoubtedly been nosing around yourself! Who told you all this?
ME: I have my sources. But back to the hair stylist’s scissors. I hear you took those off her work tray. Those aren’t cheap.
S: Exaggerations. She wasn’t using them at that particular moment. Anyway, I tried catching a mouse once. Killing living things is out, and I don’t like fur in my mouth. (he licks his shoulder.)
ME: Um, about that fur in the mouth thing?
S: (freezes his stare off into the distance) This is grooming. Minimal fur reaches the mouth.
ME: Seriously? I’m supposed to believe that?
S: (spits out a wad of cat hair that barely missed my leg) I’m grooming. Anyway, we need to wrap this up. I’m feeling nature’s call if you know what I mean.
ME: I have just one more question. Callie’s gift is helping the dead who come forward to settle old issues. Wishes went back with her to the 1700s to save a young boy from the gallows. Just as Callie did, Wishes saw the boy’s ghost. Can you see the dead, too?
S: Seriously? (Huffing a kitty laugh) What cat cannot see the unseen? The answer is ‘yes.’
ME: Anybody around us now?
S: Would you really like the answer?
ME: Ah. Now that you ask, no.
S: Thought so! See you around Baga Shores! (jumps off my lap and trots off)
ME: We can’t wait!
***
Next month, the one and only Alika.