Long ago, when the world was still young and the animals were learning their ways of survival, the leopard was not the mighty hunter we know today. He lived in the forest but did not know how to catch prey for food. Strong and swift though he was, his lack of skill left him often hungry.
One day, after much thought, Leopard decided to seek help. He went to Cat, who was famous for her sharp mind and unmatched hunting abilities. Cat could stalk a bird without being noticed, creep upon a rat in silence, and leap with precision when the moment came. Leopard, humbled and polite, approached her.
“Dear Cat,” he said, bowing his head, “you are clever and skillful. Would you kindly teach me the art of hunting?”
Cat, generous and willing, agreed. She saw no harm in sharing her knowledge, though she could never have guessed how Leopard’s ingratitude would one day cost him dearly.
The Three Lessons
Cat began with the basics. “First,” she instructed, “you must learn to hide yourself. Conceal your body among the bushes by the roadside. Stay low, stay still. If an animal cannot see you, it cannot escape.”
Leopard listened carefully, practicing the crouch, his golden body blending with the forest shadows.
“Second,” Cat continued, “you must learn to move silently. Your steps must be light, your paws must not snap a twig nor rustle a leaf. A hunter who is heard is a hunter who goes hungry.”
Leopard practiced again, his body gliding through the woods, his paws soft as falling leaves.
“And finally,” Cat said with emphasis, “you must use your left side when you leap. Your left paws are your strongest weapons in hunting. Strike from the left, and your prey will not escape.”
These three lessons stealth, silence, and the power of the left side were to be his foundation.
“When you have mastered them well,” Cat told him, “come back to me. I will teach you more.”
Leopard’s Early Success
Eager and determined, Leopard obeyed. He trained himself in the art of concealment, slipping into the bushes where unsuspecting antelopes passed. He sharpened his skill in silence, padding softly through the undergrowth. Most of all, he practiced his leaps, striking with power from his left side.
The results were astonishing. Leopard, once hungry and helpless, became a successful hunter. Every day he brought down animals, filling his belly and boasting of his strength.
But with success came pride. And with pride came forgetfulness of kindness.
Hunger and Betrayal
One day, Leopard’s luck turned. He spent the morning stalking prey, but every animal escaped. The birds flew off, the antelopes leapt away, and even the smallest rodent darted out of reach. By evening, Leopard was faint with hunger.
“What shall I eat?” he thought, pacing in frustration. Then a thought came to him: Cat. She had been kind to him, and he remembered she had a family of little kittens at home. Instead of gratitude, hunger and greed clouded his heart.
Without hesitation, Leopard went to Cat’s home. She was away at the time, but her kittens were there, small and helpless. Leopard, thinking only of his empty stomach, devoured them all.
When Cat returned and discovered what had happened, her grief turned into fury. The betrayal pierced her heart more deeply than any claw could.
“You ungrateful creature!” she cried. “I taught you to hunt, and this is how you repay me? From this day forward, I will teach you no more.”
With that, Cat turned her back on Leopard forever.
The Consequence
From that day, Leopard’s training ended. He had learned only half of what Cat had meant to teach him. While he mastered the skill of catching prey on his left side, he never received the lessons that would have allowed him to strike with equal strength and precision on the right.
Thus, to this very day, leopards are most successful when catching animals that pass them on their left. Their betrayal of Cat sealed their fate, leaving them incomplete hunters reminders of how ingratitude destroys both trust and opportunity.
Moral Lesson
This story warns against betrayal and ingratitude. The Leopard’s hunger led him to destroy the very bond that gave him strength. By harming Cat, he not only lost her friendship but also the chance to learn fully. Gratitude preserves relationships and opens doors to growth, but betrayal closes them forever.
Knowledge Check
1: What skill did the Leopard originally lack in this folktale?
Leopard did not know how to hunt animals for food.
2: Who taught the Leopard the art of hunting?
Cat taught Leopard how to stalk, move silently, and leap from the left side.
3: What three lessons did Cat give Leopard?
Hide among bushes, move noiselessly, and strike with the left side when hunting.
4: Why did Cat stop teaching Leopard?
Leopard betrayed her by eating her kittens while she was away.
5: What lasting effect did Leopard’s betrayal have?
He never learned to catch prey on his right side, only on his left.
6: What is the moral lesson of this story?
Betrayal and ingratitude destroy trust and opportunities for growth.
Source: African folktale (oral tradition)
