With her mother and sibling's dead, the tiny kitten resigns herself to her fate, but fate had other plans. Barely alive, she is found in the wreck of an abandoned car by Geoffrey and Sally Benné, she is just skin and bone and has a frightful squint. Fearful she has not long to live, the Benne's take her to their vet. After a lengthy examination the Benne's are assured, she will survive. They take her home to meet the other four-legged residents of the house, Lily, Tuppence, Rusty, and their feisty German house-keeper, Hanna. Squiffy is happy, then on day her life is turned upside down. Her owners take her to their mountain cabin, and while they are enjoying the ski slopes, two thugs break into the cabin, during their rampage they inflict serious injuries to Squiffy. When she is discovered Geoff and Sally fear the worst, they rush her to the nearest veterinarian who saves her life. As the years pass the Benne's lose Tuppence, Lily and Rusty, worried that Squiffy will pine they decide to get another cat, called Topaz. Squiffy adopts the mantle of Matriarch, With the years weighing heavily on her, Squiffy knows her time with her parents is almost over. One night as she lies curled up beside Sally, the tiny cat with the terrible squint dreams a dream.