Kitty Kapers (1929)

by Linda Kay

British Pathé

Synopsis: Newsreel footage showcases girls learning to wash kittens.

Reality Cats: The titles indicate that the girls are taking part in a school where they learn to care for their domestic pets. But only kittens are present and numerous young ladies are sitting around wash basins on a grassy field scrubbing their kittens.

Kitty Kapers - little girls bathing kittens in washtubs
Kitty Kapers - little girls bathing kittens in washtubs

This, unbelievably, includes running the kittens up and down washboards! Fortunately the girls shown doing this do not seem to be pressing very hard, but still!

Kitty Kapers - little girls bathing kittens in washtubs with washboards
Kitty Kapers - little girl brushing kitten

The girls then hang the poor kittens in socks on a line. The kittens appear to be understandably uncomfortable and confused.

Kitty Kapers - little girls hanging kittens in socks on clothesline
Kitty Kapers - little girls hanging kittens in socks on clothesline
Kitty Kapers - little girls hanging kittens in socks on clothesline
Kitty Kapers - black kitten hanging in sock on clothesline

The kittens are then treated to a lunch, although we don’t actually see them get to eat. In this shot it is clear several of these kittens are tiny!

Kitty Kapers - little girls on lawn with kittens and plates

The last shot is of a girl hugging three black kittens. If this actually was a school, which seems highly unlikely, then it certainly couldn’t have been accredited!

Kitty Kapers - little girl hugging three black kittens

Final Mewsings: It’s a good thing they didn’t try to put the kittens through a ringer!

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