James H Schmitz's "Novice" (novelette, free): Your pet could be smarter than you think

Young Telzey Amberdon with her pet Tick-Tock is sent with her evil Aunt Halet to the human park world Jontarou. Now there is a history behind Tick-Tock: no one knows what kind of cat it is or which world it is the inhabitant of.

Here Telzey will meet intelligent natives humans are unaware of, & will help their civilization integrate into human one.

Fact sheet.

First published: Analog, June 1962.
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Rating: A.
Among the stories from Astounding/Analog issues edited by John Campbell.
Related: Stories of James H Schmitz.