Directed by: Harry Winer

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

Synopsis: Upset by the news that their parents are separating, Grover Beindorf (Kyle Howard) and his sister Stacey (Amy Sakasitz) lock them in the basement hoping for a reconciliation.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): The Beindorfs own a longhair ginger tabby cat. (The subtitles on the streaming version say the cat’s name is “Fluffy” but other reliable sources and the sound of the name being spoken appears to be Flossie).

Flossie is sitting on the father’s suitcases when Grover realizes the split may be more serious than his parents are letting on.

In Grover’s room, Stacey pets Flossie and then picks her up, commenting on how she has been chasing rats in the basement. This gives Grover the idea of using the basement as a possible solution to their problem.

Flossie is in a wagon full of tools as the kids nail the basement door shut and leave their parents to their imprisonment overnight.

The next morning the parents promise they have made up, but when they start to squabble again Grover quickly tries to nail them back in. The father pushes on the door and knocks a chair across the kitchen, scaring Flossie. A Poor Cat Screech is dubbed in here (and not for the last time!)

Things really spiral out of control when the school bully T.J. Krupp (Herbert Russell) shows up and he and Grover’s friend Matt (Mooky Arizona) decide to expand upon the idea, capturing their own parents and bringing them over to lock them in the basement, too. They also bring their pets, a bulldog named Cosmo and T.J.’s pet python. Cosmo chases Flossie around the house (second and third Poor Cat Screeches) as things descend into chaos.

After a crazy day, Stacey is sleeping in a chair with Flossie in her arms.

The kids band together to make a meal for the parents, splattering goop all over the kitchen and at Flossie who runs away with yet another Poor Cat Screech (number four.)

The kids become very close, even holding each other’s pets.

Flossie never really has any direct part in the action but is often present.

When Grover finds out his mother actually went to an attorney and filed for divorce papers, he is livid. He slams down the phone and scares poor Flossie yet again (Poor Cat Screech number five!)

Eventually things work out okay and the entire cast is shown under the end credits dancing on the shores of Hawaii, including the animals. Flossie has his own shot, licking at a tropical drink in a wicker basket.

The animals were provided by Animal Actors of Hollywood. It would appear at least two cat actors shared the role.

Final Mewsings: This may be the most times a Poor Cat Screech was used in a movie!

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