Let’s Give Kitty a Bath! (1985)

Jan 21, 2024

by Linda Kay

Directed by: Gary Templeton

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

Synopsis: A pair of annoyingly obsessive (not to mention destructive) siblings (Adam Bucco and Amanda Jacobson) decide to give their cat a bath, which the feline understandably tries to avoid.

Featured Feline: The ginger and white tabby cat is sitting quietly on a chair on the porch of the family home, minding his own business.

Let's Give Kitty a Bath - ginger and white tabby cat sitting on chair on porch

The brother and sister watch a neighbor washing her dog and get the idea that they can do the same for their cat. The cat watches worriedly as they drag out a kiddie pool and fill it with water and soap suds.

Let's Give Kitty a Bath - ginger and white tabby cat looking nervous

As soon as the tabby realizes the bath is for him, he runs into the house.

Let's Give Kitty a Bath - ginger and white tabby cat running away as Adam Bucco by bath calls him animated gif

The cat, boy and girl then run from room to room via the old hallway / door gag. (Run in real time, this bit drags on too long. Speeding up the footage, as we did below, might have made it funnier. But probably not.)

Let's Give Kitty a Bath - ginger and white tabby cat walking across hallway
Let's Give Kitty a Bath - ginger and white tabby cat running across hall from room to room with Adam Bucco and Amanda Jacobson animated gif

Next the pair try to catch the cat by dangling a mouse toy so the girl can catch the him in a net. Doesn’t work.

Let's Give Kitty a Bath - ginger and white tabby cat playing with mouse toy
Let's Give Kitty a Bath - ginger and white tabby cat looking at mouse toy on string
Let's Give Kitty a Bath - ginger and white tabby cat avoiding being caught in net by Amanda Jacobson animated gif

They set up a box trap and bait it with dry cat food. Doesn’t work.

Let's Give Kitty a Bath - ginger and white tabby cat sitting inside box trap

Somehow they get the idea to paint a cardboard box in camouflage colors and roll across the lawn to sneak up on the cat. This definitely doesn’t work.

Let's Give Kitty a Bath - ginger and white tabby cat peeking out from behind tree
Let's Give Kitty a Bath - ginger and white tabby cat peeking out from behind tree at camouflage painted box rolling toward him animated gif

Finally they dig a hole trap and bait it with a large fish. The cat watches hungrily from a tree.

Let's Give Kitty a Bath - ginger and white tabby cat sitting in tree
Let's Give Kitty a Bath - ginger and white tabby cat looking hungry in tree

The poor cat can’t resist the fish and is finally caught.

Let's Give Kitty a Bath - ginger and white tabby cat sniffing at fish on pit trap

The kids carry the cat to the pool for the bath, but fate intervenes and the cat is spared the humiliation of a dunking.

Let's Give Kitty a Bath - ginger and white tabby cat being held by Adam Bucco by kiddie pool with Amanda Jacobson
Let's Give Kitty a Bath - ginger and white tabby cat being held by Adam Bucco

The story is based on a book by Steven Lindblom and True Kelley. The animal actors were provided and trained by William Berloni Theatrical Animals, Inc. with William Berloni as Head Trainer with Carolyn Kirsch and Karen Johnson assisting. Several different cat actors played the part of the cat in this short.

Let's Give Kitty a Bath - ginger and white tabby cat sitting on chair on porch

Final Mewsings: The cat’s response to the title: “Let’s not and say we did!”

Relevant Links:

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