The Fox and Kotoffei Ivanovich – Full Text of a Russian Folk Tale

Description: The full version of the Russian folk tale about an old cat who became the king of animals thanks to the cleverness of a cunning fox. A story about cleverness, mutual aid, and finding solutions in difficult situations.

Once upon a time, there lived a grandfather and a grandmother. They lived poorly, having no livestock, only an old cat living in their house. The cat had grown very weak and stopped catching mice, so the grandmother began grumbling:

– What good is this cat if he doesn’t catch mice anymore? He’s of no use to us!

The grandfather took the cat, put him in a sack, and carried him into the forest, where he released him. The cat was left all alone. He wandered through the forest, hungry and unable to find any food. Suddenly, he spotted a tree stump. Under the stump, there were many mouse holes. The cat lay down next to the stump and waited for the mice. He caught enough for lunch and saved some for dinner.

The cat ate and then walked further into the forest. Soon he met a fox. The fox had never seen such animals before. She approached and asked:

– Who are you? I’ve never seen you before!

The cat lifted his head proudly and replied:

– I am Kotoffei Ivanovich, a great beast sent from the Siberian forests.

The fox got scared, thinking he was an important official, and immediately decided to befriend him:

– Oh, Kotoffei Ivanovich! Forgive me for not recognizing you at once. I have a house. Come with me, I’ll feed you and treat you well.

The fox led the cat to her den, fed him chicken and meat, and then offered:

– Kotoffei Ivanovich, stay with me. We’ll live together. I will feed you, and you will be the leader of all the animals.

The cat agreed. From that time, the fox brought him treats: a goose, a duck, a chicken. Kotoffei Ivanovich lived well and comfortably.

One day, the fox caught a duck and joyfully ran home, but on the way, she met a wolf. The wolf stopped her:

– Stop, fox! Give me the duck!

– No, I won’t give it to you! – replied the fox.

– Then I’ll take it by force!

The fox threatened:

– I will tell Kotoffei Ivanovich, and he will punish you!

– Who is that? – the wolf asked, surprised.

– Don’t you know him? He’s our leader, sent from the Siberian forests to keep order!

The wolf got scared and left. The fox ran on but soon met a bear. The bear also tried to take the duck, but again, the fox mentioned Kotoffei Ivanovich. The bear got scared and suggested:

– Alright, I will bring a gift for your leader. And the wolf can bring something too.

The fox instructed the bear to bring an ox and the wolf to bring a ram. Both agreed and went to prepare the gifts.

When the gifts were ready, the bear and the wolf stopped at a forest clearing and began to discuss:

– Who will go to the leader? – asked the bear.

– I’m scared, – replied the wolf, – you go!

But the bear didn’t want to go either. Then they met a hare and sent him to tell the fox that the gifts were ready. The hare ran to the fox’s den, knocked on the door, and said:

– Mikhailo Ivanovich and Levon Ivanovich are waiting for you with the gifts.

The fox and Kotoffei Ivanovich prepared and left. When they saw them, the bear climbed up a tree, and the wolf hid in a pit under some brush. The cat saw the meat, ran to the ox, and began scratching it with his claws. The bear heard the cat’s “meow-meow” and thought it meant “little, little.” The bear got scared, climbed down from the tree, and ran away. The wolf jumped out of the pit and ran after him.

Since then, the wolf and the bear never appeared again, and the fox and Kotoffei Ivanovich lived happily.

Moral: This story teaches us that even in difficult situations, we can find a way out, and that cleverness helps us overcome challenges.

Questions for children:

1. Why did the fox decide to befriend Kotoffei Ivanovich?
2. How did the fox convince the wolf and the bear to fear the cat?
3. What lesson does this story teach us?