by Linda Kay
Original Air Date: December 8, 1968
Directed by: Harry Harris
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this episode!
Synopsis: Fitzhugh (Kurt Kasznar), who unfortunately is suffering from amnesia, is captured by crooks Lobo (Lane Bradford) and Hook (Willard Sage) who have plans to use the miniature man in their plot to steal a priceless ruby.
Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): After capturing Fitzhugh the crooks take him back to their small house. A ginger tabby cat comes running up outside and pokes his paw through a very obvious hole in the side of the building.
Hearing the noise, Lobo and Hook go outside to investigate and almost spot Barry (Stefan Arngrim), who is hiding nearby. Moments later the cat emerges from the bushes. “Aw, it’s Scruffy!” Hook says excitedly, pointing out that’s who they heard. Lobo is less enthusiastic and yells, “Scat,” scaring the poor kitty away with a dubbed over screech. “Aw, you didn’t have to scare him!” Hook scolds.
Later in the episode the rest of the group, Burton (Gary Conway), Mark (Don Matheson), Dan (Don Marshall) and Betty (Heather Young) are also captured alongside Barry, whom Fitzhugh points out is the perfect size to get inside the lock they need to open. As plans are being made, Hook feeds Scruffy some sardines by sticking them through the hole in the wall.
After Lobo and Hook leave with Fitzhugh and Barry, Valerie (Deanna Lund) enters through the hole with Barry’s dog Chipper. She assures them that the cat followed the giants away but instead Scruffy is sitting right outside the hole, blocking their only exit.
A plan is hatched where they manage to lower a container of black pepper from a table. Burton watches with Scruffy on the other end of the hole.
They carry the pepper to the hole and jump on the can, literally pepper spraying poor Scruffy who runs away in frustration.
Final Mewsings: Cats can tell when they’re not wanted!
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