Kepler the cat knows a lot of animals, some of them by name. There's Chester, the mouse he used to chase at his old house, and Oberon, a.k.a. Old Man, his human's canine best friend. Then there are the rabbits, squirrels, birds, moles, and other backyard buddies that Kepler likes way more than they like him. But, Kepler is young and has only lived in two places. There is a whole world of animals he's never known. When Kepler's human, Emily, wins a Kid Conservationist competition, the family packs up, travels to the host zoo, and gets an inside look at wildlife Kepler never imagined. He learns that a lot of the wild animals live in the zoo because their natural homes are being used up by humans. Kepler also learns that even though many human practices make life more difficult for these animals, there are people who care deeply about protecting the earth so that wildlife and humans can live long, healthy lives side by side.