I Was a Teenage Thumb (1963)

Aug 3, 2026

by Linda Kay

Directed by: Chuck Jones, Maurice Noble

Synopsis: In this Looney Tunes short, a woodcutter and his wife long for a son and is granted one by a magician, albeit the child is no bigger than a thumb.

Cartoon Cat: At the start of the short the couple are sitting around longing for a child while the wife knits endless piles of baby booties. There are so many that the family dog, cat and even a rat parade by wearing the booties on their feet.

I Was a Teenage Thumb - orange cartoon cat wearing booties
I Was a Teenage Thumb - orange cartoon cat wearing booties animated gif

This same cat shows up some time after the baby is born to steal the child from the couples’ nightstand.

I Was a Teenage Thumb - orange cartoon cat's claw grabbing tiny baby

The cat takes the baby outside and tries to eat the infant but the child is carried away by a bird before the cat can chow down.

I Was a Teenage Thumb - orange cartoon cat sneaking outside with tiny baby
I Was a Teenage Thumb - orange cartoon cat sneaking outside with tiny baby
I Was a Teenage Thumb - orange cartoon cat looking at tiny baby on tree stump
I Was a Teenage Thumb - orange cartoon cat about to eat tiny baby
I Was a Teenage Thumb - orange cartoon cat after tiny baby has been snatched away

Final Mewsings: Most cats wouldn’t bother for such a tiny morsel.

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