A fantasy with a realistic setting, this book takes readers on a thrilling exploration of love, envy, kindness, and family. The title alludes to much more than the home beneath the house shared by several of the story's protagonists. Abandoned and about to have kittens, a calico cat is befriended by a hound dog who urges her to raise her kittens underneath the porch of his owner's house, where they will be safe--as long as they stay in the Underneath. This harrowing yet sweet story is a tale about the power of love and hate. Illustrations.