The Love Wager

Tigger the cat serves as a symbol of Hallie’s readiness to mature into adulthood by signaling her willingness to provide for and nurture another creature. Adopting a cat, which takes place at the same time that Hallie begins dating Alex, also shows her readiness for love. Alex, in offering to help Hallie shop for cat items and pick up the cat, provides competition for Jack as Alex steps into this role of supportive partner. Alex further proves his readiness to please Hallie by buying cat toys for Tigger, which further provokes Jack to jealousy and leads him to confront his feelings.

Jack wants to claim priority in both Hallie’s affections and Tigger’s because he was present when Hallie and the cat first met, supporting her adoption efforts, and he in fact supplied Tigger’s name. Tigger’s immediate attachment to and demonstrated affection for Hallie is Jack’s first hint of his own feelings as he watches the two interact. Further, when he returns from his Minneapolis trip with catnip in his pocket, Jack shows that he hopes to be welcomed by Hallie as well as her cat. Fortunately for Jack, Tigger’s acceptance of and claim on him, demonstrated by sitting on him, indicates to the reader and to Hallie that her pet already recognizes Jack’s suitability as a romantic partner.