Original Air Date: October 21, 1978
Directed by: Christopher Barry
This review contains a Kitty Carnage (and Kitty Causing Carnage) Warning!
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this episode!
Synopsis: James Herriot (Christopher Timothy) tries to treat an unruly patient then finds himself surrounded by controversy as the acting vet at the Darrowby and Houlton Show.
Featured Feline: The trouble begins when James is called upon by Mrs. Bond (Sonia Graham) who brings her black cat Boris (aka The Gladiator) in for his worming treatment (Boris was a character from the original books). James is reluctant from the start, as is Boris, who is growling.
Mrs. Bond has brought a pair of gauntlets for James to wear in handling the notoriously dangerous cat, but after unsuccessfully trying to take the combative feline out of the basket carrier he opts to use a towel to swaddle the animal.
A struggle ensues to get Boris wrapped in the towel, during which time the cat is growling and aggravated. It should be noted that some of the cat growling and sounds appear to be dubbed in, but it is very clear the cat actor is terrified about what’s going on.
Once Boris is swaddled, James pries the cat’s mouth open to drop in the pill.
Kitty Carnage (and Kitty Causing Carnage) Warning: Here is where things went out of control for all actors concerned. The cat actor actually ended up biting actor Christopher Timothy, causing him to swear (fortunately Sonia Graham’s head was in front of his mouth so the word could easily be taken out). At this point Mrs. Bond tries to return Boris to the basket, but the cat actor is having none of it. Instead he tries to climb over the actress, leaving Christopher to try to pry the animal from her back.
The cat actor again resists going into the basket and almost gets free, with both actors struggling valiantly to get the cat actor put away.
In later interviews, Christopher Timothy explained that Sonia Graham showed him her back which was raked with scratches.
Kitty Cameos: Later at the pet competition which James is going to judge, there is a boy with a tabby and white cat and a little girl with a black kitten.
Mrs. Bond is also there with Boris. Wisely they leave Boris in the carrier during the show.
Final Mewsings: Someone should have told the poor cat they were all just acting.
Many thanks to Mark Murton for letting us know about this infamous cat acting incident!
Relevant Links:
To discuss this show and other cats in movies and on television, join us on Facebook and Twitter.