My Three Sons – “Chip, the Trapper”

Nov 17, 2020

Original Air Date: April 1, 1965

Directed by: James V. Kern

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

Synopsis: With his dad and brothers all working, Chip (Stanley Livingston) feels a need to provide for the family as well and decides to become a fur trapper.

Kitty Cameo: Chip and Ernie (Barry Livingston) build a box trap baited with sardines and go to the park to try it out. A long-haired white cat with black markings wanders into the trap and gets caught.

My Three Sons - Chip the Trapper - white and black longhaired cat Fluffy walking towards box trap
My Three Sons - Chip the Trapper - white and black longhaired cat Fluffy getting caught in box trap

The boys rush to the trap as the cat screeches and yowls. In actuality the cat actor is quite calm, eating whatever was placed inside the box for him.

My Three Sons - Chip the Trapper - Chip Stanley Livingston and Ernie Barry Livingston looking at white and black longhaired cat Fluffy caught in box trap

A woman (Margaret Muse) sitting on a bench nearby hears the cat crying and jumps up, yelling, “Fluffy! Boys, what have you done to Fluffy?” “Nothing ma’am,” Chip explains, “We’re trying out our new trap. We’re going to catch fur-bearing animals and make fur coats.” “Out of helpless little cats?” the woman cries. “You get him out of there this instance!” Chip pulls Fluffy from the box and winces as if the cat has clawed his finger. “Serves you right!” the woman says.

My Three Sons - Chip the Trapper - Chip Stanley Livingston and Ernie Barry Livingston taking white and black longhaired cat Fluffy out of in box trap

The woman gathers up Fluffy and hurries away, talking baby talk to him.

My Three Sons - Chip the Trapper - Chip Stanley Livingston and Ernie Barry Livingston watching as woman Margaret Muse reaches for white and black longhaired cat Fluffy
My Three Sons - Chip the Trapper - Chip Stanley Livingston and Ernie Barry Livingston watching as woman Margaret Muse picking up white and black longhaired cat Fluffy

The animals for the series were provided by Frank Inn.

My Three Sons - Chip the Trapper - Chip Stanley Livingston and Ernie Barry Livingston watching as woman Margaret Muse picks up white and black longhaired cat Fluffy
My Three Sons - Chip the Trapper - woman Margaret Muse reaches running away with white and black longhaired cat Fluffy

Final Mewsings: Who lets their cat run around loose in the park?

Relevant Links:

IMDb logo
Amazon logo




To discuss this show and other cats in movies and on television, join us on Facebook and Twitter.

Share this with your cat and movie loving friends!