🔧 Leo and the Clever Cat Machine

Leo loved two things more than anything:

building things…

and cats.

The neighborhood was full of them —

bold ones, shy ones, fluffy ones, and sleek ones.

But there was a problem.

"Every time I put food out," Leo said,

"the birds swoop in and steal it!

And the shy cats get scared and run away.

Everyone ends up hungry."

Leo scratched his curly head.

"This calls for… an invention!"

Step 1: Ideas and Plans

Leo grabbed a big piece of paper.

With a stubby pencil, he started to sketch.

"What if there was a way

for cats to come,

but birds to stay out?"

The first drawing was a wobbly tunnel.

The second drawing had a tall food spout.

The third had a bell that went ding!

"Hmm," Leo whispered.

"Maybe all three together!"

Aya came running past, holding a map.

"What are you doing?" Aya asked.

"Building something to help the cats!" said Leo.

"Want to help?"

Aya's eyes sparkled.

"Of course!"

Lumi peeked around a tree, curious.

Quietly, Lumi walked over and sat down,

watching every pencil line.

Step 2: Gathering Supplies

In the shed, there were boxes and buttons,

pipes and pulleys,

old spoons, springs, and wheels.

Aya found a roll of tubing.

"This can be the tunnel," Aya said.

Lumi pointed to a funnel.

"That could pour the food."

Leo picked up an old bicycle bell.

"And this," said Leo, "will tell us when it's snack time!"

Step 3: Building

They worked all afternoon.

Leo measured.

Aya tightened screws.

Lumi carefully sorted pieces into piles.

Clank!

Rattle!

Ping!

Sometimes a piece didn't fit.

Sometimes something fell over.

But they tried again and again.

By sunset, their invention stood tall:

The Clever Cat Machine.

Step 4: Testing

The machine had:

A cozy tunnel for shy cats.

A tall spout that dropped food into a bowl.

A bell that went ding! whenever a cat stepped inside.

"Let's try it," Leo said.

Step 5: The First Visitors

They placed the machine at the edge of the garden.

Then they waited.

At first, nothing happened.

Then…

one curious nose peeked out.

It was Whiskers, the bold orange cat.

Whiskers padded into the tunnel.

Ding! went the bell.

Food sprinkled down.

Whiskers purred happily.

Then came Pebble, a tiny gray kitten.

Ding! went the bell.

A small snack tumbled into the bowl.

Soon, one by one,

all the neighborhood cats came —

even the shy ones.

The birds stayed away.

The cats ate in peace.

And no one was left out.

Step 6: Success

Aya clapped.

Lumi smiled quietly.

Leo beamed from ear to ear.

"The Clever Cat Machine works!" said Leo.

🔧