Original Air Date: September 11, 1993
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this episode!
Synopsis: Children are taught about predicates by hearing a tale about a lonely man named Mr. Morton.
Cartoon Cat: Mr. Morton owns an adorable little orange tabby cat who greets him at the mailbox when he comes home. The line, “Mr. Morton talks to his cat. Mr. Morton talks,” is an example of how the predicate explains what the subject, Mr. Morton, does. What’s even cuter is the singer (Jack Sheldon) adds the spoken line, “Hello, cat. You look good.”
The cat looks on as Mr. Morton waters his flowers.
As the singer explains, “Mr. Morton is the subject of the sentence,” the cat points to the man’s name on the screen.
Mr. Morton is in love with a neighbor named Pearl but is too shy to tell her his feelings. Instead he contemplates himself in the mirror (the cat seems much happier with their own reflection).
After writing a poem, which he sends across to Pearl as a paper airplane, the cat returns with a note. Adorably, the envelope reads, “Mr. Morton via Cat.”
The cat is shown stretching to illustrate the line, “The cat stretched.”
After Mr. Morton runs away from his date with Pearl he goes back home and sadly climbs the stairs. The cat follows.
The cat is sad as Mr. Morton types a poem about how he is lonely.
But the short has a happy ending! Watch to find out what happens!
Final Mewsings: Cats appreciate predicates so they can eat and sleep and stretch and scratch . . .
Relevant Links:
To discuss this show and other cats in movies and on television, join us on Facebook and Twitter.