Original Air Date: December 6, 1965

Directed by: Charles Barton

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

Synopsis: Deirdre (Cathy Lewis) butts in by insisting Susie (Julia Benjamin) attend charm school, much to Barbara’s (Lynn Borden) frustration.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): The Baxter’s own a small black cat, although he (or she) is seen very rarely in this fifth season of the series and has no apparent name. When the cat does appear, it is usually in the context of a running joke in which the kitty sneaks into the kitchen to nibble on something Hazel (Shirley Booth) has prepared. In this case the cat is first seen jumping on the counter and helping themselves to the food there.

Hazel enters and is shocked to see the cat. “Now wait a minute!” she cries, “Just ’cause you have nine lives don’t mean you have to eat eighteen meals a day!” She picks up the cat and places him outside.

The cat is next standing at a door trying to get back inside.

When Harold (Bobby Buntrock) comes home he enters through the front door. The cat runs in behind him.

It seems like a scene is missing (or never aired) because somehow the cat gets back outside and also follows Steve (Ray Fulmer) in when he enters.

While Hazel’s back is turned, the cat leaps up (or is tossed up) onto the counter and starts eating again. “How the Houdini did you get in here?” Hazel cries and she puts him back out.

Later in the episode Susie is sent upstairs to bed after protesting the idea of going to charm school at the dinner table. Hazel feels sorry for her and prepares a plate to sneak up. As she exits the back door, the cat is waiting on a lawn chair. Hazel urges the cat to be quiet but Steve hears him meowing and knows something is up.

The cat follows Hazel around the side of the house to the front door. When she enters, Steve catches her.

Late that night, Susie decides to run away from home. She carries the black cat with her down the stairs and sneaks out the front door with him.

When Hazel finds out Susie has run away she looks everywhere for her. She and Harold finally find her sleeping in the attic with the cat beside her. Barbara and Steve follow Hazel upstairs and Barbara moves the cat aside as they comfort Susie.

Final Mewsings: You can’t stop a hungry cat!

Many thanks to Laurie Morrison and Erin T. Aardvark for letting us know about the cat in this episode!

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