The two title characters are a cat and a dog who run a general store. They offer their customers unlimited credit. As a result, they have a lot of customers but no money because none of their customers ever pay their bills. Some characters from Potter's earlier children's books are referred to by name in The Tale of Ginger and Pickles. Several others, including Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, Mr. Jeremy Fisher, Jemima Puddle-Duck and Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, appear in the illustrations.