A Tiger In The House

Summary 

Grandfather found a small tiger cub in the Terai jungle near Dehra. The cub was hiding among the roots of a banyan tree. He picked it up and brought it home and named it Timothy. At first, Timothy was fed milk with a bottle by the cook, Mahmoud. Later, the milk was stopped because it did not suit him. He was then fed raw meat, cod-liver oil, pigeons, and rabbits. Timothy had two companions at home—a monkey named Toto and a small puppy. Toto teased the tiger by pulling his tail and escaped by climbing the curtains. The puppy slowly became Timothy’s friend.

In the beginning, Timothy was afraid of the puppy and stayed away from it. Slowly, he became friendly and even allowed the puppy to sit on his back. Timothy loved to play games like stalking people. When the narrator came to live there, Timothy became very fond of him and played by pretending to attack his feet. As Timothy grew bigger, people were scared to walk near him. He became strong and pulled hard on his chain. His favourite place was the drawing room where he rested proudly on the sofa.

Timothy was clean like a cat and washed his face with his paws. He slept in the cook’s room and was always happy when let out in the morning. As Timothy grew older, he became less friendly and more dangerous. He began stalking animals and frightening people. Grandmother feared he might harm someone. When Timothy started stalking the cook, Grandfather decided it was unsafe to keep him at home. He took Timothy to the Lucknow zoo, where the authorities accepted him gladly.

Six months later, Grandfather visited the zoo to see Timothy. He went to the cage where Timothy was kept and called out to him. The tiger came close and allowed Grandfather to touch and stroke him. He licked Grandfather’s hands and behaved calmly, though a leopard nearby frightened him. Zoo keepers watched in surprise because Timothy was usually bad-tempered. Grandfather went to look for the zoo superintendent but could not find him. When Grandfather returned to the cage, another keeper told him the shocking truth. Timothy, the pet tiger, had died two months earlier.

The tiger in the cage was a different, wild tiger that had been caught recently and was very dangerous. Grandfather slowly removed his hand, said goodbye, and left the zoo silently.

Difficult Words & Easy Meanings

• Terai – low land near the Himalayas with forests and grass

• Cub – baby of a lion or tiger

• Intricate – complicated, twisted

• Distinction – special honour or achievement

• Bagged (game) – caught or hunted

• Companions – friends

• Mongrel – mixed-breed dog

• Darted – moved suddenly

• Retreat – go back

• Stalk – move quietly to catch or attack

• Retriever – a type of dog

• Wide berth – keep a safe distance

• Dignity – calm and proud behaviour

• Snarling – making an angry animal sound

• Prophetic – able to tell the future

• Frenzied – wild and excited

• Cackling – loud hen-like noise

• Interned – kept or locked in a place

• Magnificent – very beautiful or impressive

• Smacked – hit lightly

• Slink – move quietly and secretly

• Relish – great enjoyment

Comprehension Check

1. Grandmother’s prophecy was that the tiger

✅ (iii) would one day make a meal of Mahmoud.

2. The phrase “a change came over him” means

✅ (iii) Timothy grew less friendly, in fact more dangerous.

3. Write ‘True’ or ‘False’

(i) Timothy and Grandfather went to Lucknow in a special compartment.
False

(ii) The compartment in which Grandfather and Timothy travelled had no other passenger.
True

(iii) Timothy and Grandfather travelled in a first class compartment.
True

(iv) All passengers in the compartment thought Timothy was a well-fed and civilised tiger.
False

4. Grandfather suggested that Timothy should be put in another cage because

✅ (ii) a leopard in the next cage would constantly rush at Timothy.

5. The phrase “with increasing relish” suggests that Timothy

✅ (ii) recognised an old friend.

Answer the following Questions:

1. Where was the tiger cub hiding when Grandfather found him?

The tiger cub was hiding among the roots of a banyan tree in the jungle.

2. (i) What did Toto do to entertain Timothy?

Toto entertained Timothy by pulling his tail.

(ii) What did he do when Timothy lost his temper?
He climbed up the curtains to escape.

3. “I became one of the tiger’s favourites.” Who is ‘I’? Why did he think so?

‘I’ refers to the narrator. He thought so because Timothy liked to play with him and stalk him playfully.

4. Where was Timothy most comfortable during the day? Where was he during the night?

During the day, Timothy was most comfortable on the sofa in the drawing room.
At night, he slept in the cook’s quarters.

5. What was Grandmother’s prophecy about the cook? Did it come true?

Grandmother said that one day Timothy would eat the cook, Mahmoud.
No, the prophecy did not come true.

6. What made Grandfather decide to transfer Timothy to the zoo?

Timothy became dangerous and started stalking animals and the cook. This made it unsafe to keep him at home.

7. Why did Grandfather want Timothy to be put in another enclosure?

Grandfather wanted Timothy to be moved because a leopard in the nearby cage kept frightening him.

8. What shocked Grandfather in the end?

Grandfather was shocked to learn that Timothy had died two months earlier and the tiger he was touching was a different, wild tiger.

Discussion Topics – Sample Points

1. Shoot animals with a camera, not with a gun.

Animals should be photographed instead of hunted. Photography saves wildlife and shows respect for nature.

2. Keeping pets helps us become more loving and tolerant. Do you agree?

Yes, keeping pets teaches us kindness, responsibility, and respect for life.

3. What is SPCA? What do they do?

SPCA stands for Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. They protect animals, rescue injured animals, and prevent animal cruelty.