by Ted Davis

Original Air Date: December 15, 1974

Directed by: Michael O’Herlihy

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

Synopsis: Hard-working private eye Joe Mannix (Mike Connors) is hired by Kelly Anderson (Carol Lawrence) to prove that the lone survivor of a plane crash disaster, Penn Anderson (Paul Burke), is not her husband, and gets mixed up with the mob and the FBI.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): As Mannix eavesdrops on a mob meeting in the next room, a gray tuxedo cat chooses just that moment to jump on a desk and knock over some books, causing a disturbance which prompts the mob attendees to head toward the stairs to his room.

But before they get too far, the cat darts down the ugly carpeted stairs and the rush is stalled. After one of the bosses makes a mildly disparaging remark about the clumsiness of the tuxedo, the meeting’s host, Nick (William Tregoe), responds, “Well, he doesn’t see so good in the dark, either, no matter what they say in the books, but he’s got loyalty.”

And evidently he does, because moments later the cat hops on the table to block Penn Anderson’s arm as he attempts to use his gun to defend himself. During this action, the sound of breaking glass is audible, but no overturned glasses are visible.

Final Mewsings: This kitty really was married to the mob.

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