Warner Bros.
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, David Bradley
Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón

Synopsis: Year three at Hogwart’s finds Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) concerned about the escape of a notoriously dangerous criminal named Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) whom everyone is convinced is out to kill Harry.

Kitty Cameos: This is the first appearance of Hermione’s (Emma Watson) cat Crookshanks, an orange, long-haired Persian who enjoys chasing Ron’s (Rupert Grint) rat Scabbers.  We first see Crookshanks chasing Scabbards at the Leaky Cauldron Inn where Harry is staying in London.  The two animals lead him to Ron and Hermione.

On the train to Hogwart’s Crookshanks is seen in the compartment with Harry, Ron, Hermione and Professor Lupin (David Thewlis) when the Dementors enter looking for Sirius Black.  Crookshanks hisses angrily when one of the Dementors leans into their compartment.

After Harry is overcome and saved by Professor Lupin, Crookshanks is sitting on the seat next to him.

Finally Crookshanks is seen briefly outside of the school as Harry, Ron and Hermione pass and Ron complains that Crookshanks has killed Scabbers.  Of course we later find out that Scabbers is very much alive and pivotal to the plot!

The part of Crookshanks was reportedly played on screen by cat actors Crackerjack and Pumpkin.  The trainers stated that they took hair brushed from Crackerjack and stuck it back on to make it look ragged and ratty.

Mrs. Norris, the cat who is the constant companion of Argus Filch (David Bradley), Hogwart’s caretaker, also appears briefly in the scene in which something has attacked The Fat Lady in the painting which guards the door to Gryffindor Tower.

Final Mewsings: Cats know which rats are really rats!

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