This is the tale of Dick and his cat Tommy who journey to London to seek their fortune. Everything seems to be going wonderfully when he meets Alderman Fitzwarren and his lovely daughter Alice. However, things soon go awry, as he becomes a pawn in a feud between the wicked witch and the good fairy. Thanks to the former, Dick is framed for theft and forced to leave town.
His fortunes reverse when he meets Captain Fishlock, who offers his a job on his ship, the Saucy Sue. Before long, Dick, followed by Sarah, the Alderman's housekeeper, her sidekick Nicholas, and stowaways Alice and Tommy, are all ocean bound. Alas, they soon encounter a terrible storm, conjured up by the witch, which sinks the ship leaving them shipwrecked on the shores of Morocco.
Their troubles don't end there, for Sultan Sheikh-Aleg-Ther's realm is stricken by drought and plagued by rats. He sends his guards, a tongue-tied pair of fools called Mustapha and Ali, to fetch a beast to be sacrificed to their idol, Wad-um-tinkee. However, the intended victim, a star-struck, ballet-dancing camel called Humpy proves ever elusive.
The Sultan's daughters, Flossana and Bessooma, make an offering to Wad-um-tinkee too, in the hope of receiving something else that's also in short supply - a man. So, when Dick and co appear, it looks like their prayers have been answered. Yet, in a bizarre twist of fate, it's Tommy who is revered, and the others look destined for the natives' cooking pot.
Did they all avoid ending up as the Sultan's dinner? Did Dick & Nicholas escape the amorous advances of Flossana & Bessoma? Did Tommy rid the realm of the rats? Were Alice and Dick reunited? And how did they get back to London? And how did Dick end up becoming Mayo