Why the Dog Hates the Cat – A Chinese Folktale About Greed and Loyalty
Why the Dog Hates the Cat
Long, long ago, in a small village in China, there lived a poor widow. She had no children and very little money, but she had two faithful animals to keep her company. One was a dog, strong and brave, named Blackfoot. The other was a cat, quiet and clever, named Whitehead.
The widow loved both animals dearly. Blackfoot guarded the house and kept thieves away. Whitehead caught mice and kept the home clean. Together, the dog and the cat lived peacefully. They ate from the same bowl, slept near the same fire, and worked together every day. At that time, dogs and cats were good friends.
One day, while walking near the river, Blackfoot found something shining in the grass. It was a small golden beetle.
The beetle was not ordinary. When the widow touched it, something wonderful happened. That very evening, a kind stranger came to her door and gave her food. The next day, neighbors offered her help. Slowly, her life began to change.
She was very grateful and decided to trust her animals with the beetle.
“Blackfoot,” she said, “you are strong and honest. Whitehead, you are smart and careful. Please guard this beetle with your lives.”
Both animals promised to protect it.
At first, everything went well. The widow’s home became warm and comfortable. She had enough food, clean clothes, and peace in her heart. But as days passed, Whitehead the cat began to change.
Whitehead enjoyed the comfort too much. She liked sleeping on soft mats and eating the best food. Slowly, she became proud and selfish. Blackfoot remained the same—loyal, hardworking, and kind.
One afternoon, Whitehead suggested, “Blackfoot, you work all day. Why don’t you rest? I will watch the beetle.”
Blackfoot trusted her friend and went outside.
But while Blackfoot was gone, Whitehead fell asleep. A thief crept into the house and stole the golden beetle. When Whitehead woke up, she panicked. Instead of telling the truth, she ran to the widow and cried.
“Oh no! Blackfoot left his post. Because of him, the beetle is gone!”
The widow was heartbroken. All her good fortune disappeared. She believed the cat and became angry with the dog. Without listening to his words, she punished Blackfoot and drove him out of the house.
Poor Blackfoot was confused and hurt. He had been loyal, yet he was blamed. Hungry and wounded, he wandered the streets. Still, he never stopped thinking about the widow and the truth.
Days later, Blackfoot learned that the cat had been enjoying special food and comfort even after the beetle was gone. He realized the truth. Filled with pain and anger, he returned to the widow’s house.
There, the truth finally came out. The widow understood that Whitehead had lied and that Blackfoot had been innocent all along.
The widow cried and begged the dog for forgiveness. She punished the cat and chased her away. But the damage was already done.
Blackfoot looked at Whitehead with burning eyes. His heart was filled with sadness and rage.
“You were my friend,” he said. “I trusted you. Because of your greed and lies, I lost my home and honor.”
From that day on, Blackfoot swore an oath
“As long as dogs live, we will never trust cats again. We will chase them and remind the world of betrayal.”
Whitehead ran away and lived in fear, always climbing trees to escape dogs.
And that, people say, is why dogs still chase cats today.
Moral of the Story
- Greed destroys trust
- Lies cause lasting harm
- Loyalty should never be punished
- Once trust is broken, it is hard to repair
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Comprehension Questions (Easy)
Q1. Who lived with the poor widow?
A: A dog named Blackfoot and a cat named Whitehead lived with her.
Q2. What special object did the dog find?
A: A golden beetle.
Q3. What did the golden beetle bring to the widow?
A: It brought good luck and fortune.
Q4. Which animal was strong and loyal?
A: The dog, Blackfoot.
Q5. Which animal became greedy and selfish?
A: The cat, Whitehead.
Story Detail Questions (Medium)
Q6. Why did the widow trust the dog and the cat?
A: Because they helped her and promised to protect the beetle.
Q7. What mistake did the cat make?
A: She fell asleep and let the beetle be stolen.
Q8. What lie did the cat tell the widow?
A: She said the dog was careless and caused the loss.
Q9. What happened to the dog after the lie?
A: He was punished and sent away from the house.
Q10. How did the widow feel when she learned the truth?
A: She felt sad and sorry for the dog.
Thinking Questions (Moral & Values)
Q11. Was it right for the cat to lie? Why or why not?
A: No, because lying hurts others and breaks trust.
Q12. What should the cat have done instead?
A: She should have told the truth and accepted her mistake.
Q13. Why is honesty important?
A: Because it builds trust and keeps relationships strong.
Q14. How did the dog feel when he was blamed?
A: He felt sad, hurt, and angry.
Q15. What lesson does this story teach us?
A: Greed and lies can cause big problems and break friendships.
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