The finest Puss story I have read.

"The crafty mouser might be loyal, but he was by no means an imbecile, and by no means a pet."
That's my abosulte favourite line. That reminds me of my former cat -he was loyal to the bone, but did what he wished.

"that carried His Highness away…"
I am going to read too much into this and say "Yay! Nov/Puss forever!"

This is very well written. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Well done.