The Cat That Hated People (1948)

Directed by: Tex Avery

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

Synopsis: A frustrated black cat (voiced by Paul Frees doing a Jimmy Durante style impersonation) is fed up with people and decides to escape to the moon for some relief.

Cartoon Cats: The cat is sitting in a crate in an alley when the short begins. He begins to explain why he hates people so much.

The Cat That Hated People - sulking cartoon black cat in crate in alley

In the first scenario, the cat is drinking milk from a bottle left on a doorstep. Someone opens the door and smacks the cat with a broom, leaving him inside the bottle.

The Cat That Hated People - sulking cartoon black cat inside milk bottle

Next the cat tries singing on a backyard fence but gets a boot thrown at him, which he swallows.

The Cat That Hated People - cartoon black cat singing under moon on fence
The Cat That Hated People - sulking cartoon black cat standing on boot inside tail

Some nasty boys then tie paper bags to the cat’s feet to make him shake his paws while walking.

The Cat That Hated People - sulking cartoon black cat with paper bags tied to paws

Even a sweet little baby turns into a terror when he starts slamming the cat back and forth on the ground.

The Cat That Hated People - cartoon black cat being tossed around by baby

The cat bemoans the fact he can’t even sharpen his claws. After he rips open the arm of a couch, a woman hits him with a frying pan.

The Cat That Hated People - cartoon black cat ripping up arm of couch

When introduced to a bulldog by another woman, the cat is terrified.

The Cat That Hated People - cartoon black cat scared of bulldog

And for good reason! The dog starts clobbering the cat the moment the woman leaves. But when he hears the woman returning, the bulldog douses himself with ketchup and throws an axe into the cat’s hands!

The Cat That Hated People - cartoon black cat holding axe with bulldog playing dead covered in ketchup

The cat next points out how people often forget to put him out at night. After looking around desperately, the cat breaks a hole through the front door. He is then shown getting a glass of water from a dispenser outside.

The Cat That Hated People - cartoon black cat drinking cup of water from dispenser

While trying to woo a pretty female cat, the black cat is blasted by a man’s shotgun.

The Cat That Hated People - cartoon black cat making eyes at pretty ginger cat

On a busy city street the cat is trampled and then kicked.

The Cat That Hated People - sulking cartoon black cat about to be kicked by man

Having had enough, the cat spots a rocket company and hops on a rocketship to the moon.

The Cat That Hated People - cartoon black cat at controls of rocketship

Once on the moon the cat expects to finally get some peace and quiet.

The Cat That Hated People - cartoon black cat happy on the moon

Unfortunately, he is assaulted by a number of surreal creatures who torment him in ways that are too bizarre to describe!

The Cat That Hated People - cartoon black cat cut like paper dolls
The Cat That Hated People - cartoon black cat growing out of ground with roses in ears
The Cat That Hated People - sulking cartoon black cat with pencil tail and word chump pointing at him

Using a golf club, the cat “drives” himself back to the USA and is happy to be trampled on, saying that he now loves people.

The Cat That Hated People - cartoon black cat waving American flags
The Cat That Hated People - cartoon black cat being stepped on by woman

Final Mewsings: Was this film made to discourage cats from travelling to the moon?

Relevant Links:

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