The Tiger-Skin Rug (Bloomsbury Paperbacks)

It's amazing how easy it is for the tiger to pass himself off as a rug - he enjoys a life of luxury with the rajah's family, snacking on midnight feasts and playing with his children. He goes entirely undetected, until one night, when he risks expulsion from his comfortable abode as burglars break into the palace and he has to decide whether to stay in disguise as a rug - or save the rajah from a horrible beating.

However, tigers who live in houses can have happy endings, as seen in this utterly brilliant picture book.