The plot concerns a cat named Ribby and a dog named Duchess. Ribby invites Duchess to come over to her house to eat some pie. Duchess accepts the invitation, although she is certain that she will not enjoy the pie because it will be filled with mouse. Duchess comes up with a plan to substitute Ribby's mouse pie with a veal and ham pie of her own. Unfortunately for Duchess, her plan does not go smoothly. Beatrix Potter stated that, out of all the children's books she had written, The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan was her second favorite, following The Tailor of Gloucester.