Puss in Boots
In short: The cat who uses gifts and tricks to pass off his master as a nobleman.
Character
How does it work in the tale?
In Perrault, the cat brings game to the king and presents it under an invented title. Later encounters build on a name the king has already heard. Boots are part of the cat’s appearance as a traveller and negotiator.
Why does the cat ask the ogre to become a mouse?
In Perrault, the ogre becomes a lion first and frightens the cat. The cat then pretends to doubt that the ogre can turn into a tiny animal. When the ogre becomes a mouse to prove it, the cat gains the upper hand. The first transformation makes the sudden reversal in the second one stand out.