u/AgreeableFigure5079

SOLVED: Under My Hat: Tales from the Cauldron by Johnathan Strahan

No success searching through my local library's catalog for this, so I'm shaky on a lot of details. Could be an anthology (multiple authors) or collection (one author). It was definitely some kind of compilation of short stories. The tone was pretty light, so I think it was aimed at younger teens.

I'm pretty sure it was themed around magic/witches, but it might be just the one with the others being unrelated. I think the book cover was purple and semi-realistic, maybe depicting a thunderstorm.

Here's the one short story I remember the most:

• Protagonist is a teen or tween magic-user, able to speak to animals. I don't remember if the word witch is used, but that's the general vibe.
• Protagonist uses jackdaws as informants, describing why other corvids are not as useful (ex. ravens are too conspicuous).
• Protagonist's grandmother has her antique furniture taken by some guy. Don't remember the reason, it seemed to be a modern setting, so I'm pretty sure it was framed as repossession?
• Protagonist sneaks out at night and sits on a bench consciously smelling like mice(?). A cat approaches and the protagonist makes a deal with the cat to swap bodies for a couple of days. I remember her describing it as like taking off a coat.
• Protagonist sneaks into the antagonist's house and rubs all over the furniture that belonged to her grandmother. I remember a description of a wooden(?) table with a rose-like pattern in the middle of it. I think the guy repainted the furniture and the protagonist made it slowly change back.
• After probably three nights, the furniture reverts to its former appearance and walks back to the grandmother's house. The antagonist is unable to stop it.
• When they swap back, the protagonist learns that the cat acted predictably unhinged in her body, but isn't too bothered.

Thanks to anyone willing to help with this!