The trouble was, she wasn't. She was just an ordinary cat, who happened to look wise. When the other animals asked her advice, she had no idea what to tell them, and she said so.
But the others did not believe her.
You are wise,
and yet you will not help us.
One day, Bailey met a real owl, who really was wise, and she asked him what to do. The owl sat and thought for a long time. Just as Bailey was thinking it had fallen asleep, it answered, with a question of its own.
What makes you think that I am wise enough to help you?
You are an owl, and owls are wise, said Bailey.
You mean, I am an owl, and owls look wise, corrected the owl.
This was not at all what Bailey had expected.
The appearance of things is what matters most,
If people are sure you are wise,
then you are wise to them.
When the others come to you for an answer,
give them one.
Bailey started to see that the owl was right. The next day, two families of rabbits came to her, and asked her to solve a dispute they were having.
Bailey sat and thought for a long time. (That was the first thing she had learned from the owl.) Just as the rabbits were thinking Bailey had fallen asleep, she answered, with a question of her own. (That was the second thing she had learned from the owl.)
What makes you think that I am wise enough to help you?
You look like an owl, and owls are wise, so you look wise too, said the rabbits. If that sounded at all silly, the rabbits did not seem to notice it.
Are you wise enough to help us?
"My wisdom is growing," said Bailey, truthfully enough, "and I will help you." And he did.