by Mark Murton

Original Air Date: December 25, 1985

Directed by: Peter Moffatt

This review contains severe Kitty Carnage Warnings!

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this episode!

Synopsis: James (Christopher Timothy) comes to the aid of Sister Rose (Irene Sutcliffe) when she finds a dog stuck in a peat bog. He takes a liking to the animal and decides to adopt it. Siegfried (Robert Hardy) treats a cat that has taken up residence in irascible Walt Barnett’s (George Little) scrapyard.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer) with Kitty Carnage Warnings! Siegfried arrives at Barnett’s yard to examine a stray tortoiseshell cat. True to his reputation for hard-heartedness, Barnett’s main concern seems to be how much the visit will cost.

“It’s her front leg. She must’ve cut it or something,” suggests Barnett gruffly. At first Siegfried is inclined to agree but on closer examination he discovers the poor cat has had rubber bands deliberately wound tightly around her leg which have cut into her skin!

As he cuts the bands off the cat’s leg, Siegfried enquires how long Barnett has had the cat. “Look, I told you”, snaps Barnett, “she’s a stray . . . she wandered in here about a week or so back.”

A few days later Siegfried is back at Barnett’s examining the cat again, although he can’t find anything obviously wrong. “Well she’s hurt. I can tell, veterinary,” says the unimpressed Barnett.

Siegfried continues his examination and this time he finds the cat has had several rubber bands wrapped around her neck! “Who the hell’s doing this, Farnon?” demands Barnett, “One of the young buggers in the yard, you reckon?” He then adds, “They’d have me guts for garters, y’know.” “I don’t doubt it”, agrees Siegfried.

It isn’t long before Siegfried is back at the yard once more. This time the cat is doing very poorly and Barnett is convinced she has been poisoned. After examining the cat Siegfried informs Barnett that in fact the cat has “Feline enteritis, sometimes called cat distemper.” “Well, if it is that can you cure her?” urges Barnett. Informed of the high mortality rate he adds accusingly, “I thought you fellas had wonderful medicines these days.” “Yes, but this is a virus, resistant to anti-biotics,” explains Siegfried calmly. “Well, what you gonna do then?” demands Barnett. “All I can,” replies Siegfried as he prepares an injection.

Towards the end of the episode Siegfried is called back to Barnett’s where he finds the cat’s condition has worsened. He administers something to stabilise the cat’s condition and tells Barnett that the next few hours will be crucial.

Despite Siegfried’s best efforts the cat fails to pull through and he gives Barnett the grim news, “I’m sorry Mr. Barnett, I’m afraid she’s gone.” Shell-shocked, Barnett reaches out and gently lays his hand on the cat before turning quickly away, just too late to stop Siegfried seeing him burst into tears. Feeling the need to explain, Barnett tells him, “She were me friend, Farnon.”

Kitty Cameos: Earlier in the episode, James goes to Sister Rose’s to check on the dog and outside we see cages containing other rescued animals including several tuxedo kittens.

Purr Blurs: Later the dog which was rescued and adopted by James has gone missing and everyone joins in the search, including Siegfried who arrives at a farm where two cats can be seen in the yard.

Final Mewsings: True friends to cats don’t allow them to be hurt by sick people with a grudge.

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