The Mouse-Merized Cat (1946)

Directed by: Robert McKimson

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

Synopsis: A Merrie Melodies take-off on Abbott and Costello, two mice named Babbit (voiced by Tedd Pierce) and Catsello (voiced by Mel Blanc) would love to partake in the food of the deli they live in if only Babbit can hypnotize Catstello into not being afraid of the cat.

Cartoon Cat: After Babbit manages to hypnotize Catstello into thinking he is a dog, Catstello runs out of the mousehole barking. The cat hears the barking and freaks out, running for shelter.

The Mouse-Merized Cat - cartoon blue cat sleeping
The Mouse-Merized Cat - cartoon blue cat running

The cat ducks under a large can as Catstello barks around the outside. Eventually Catstello flips the can off the cat, who is praying and doesn’t notice the source of the barking at first.

The Mouse-Merized Cat - cartoon blue cat reaching for can
The Mouse-Merized Cat - cartoon blue cat praying with Catstello mouse barking at him

When the cat realizes it is a mouse who is barking, he is shocked at first, then angry.

The Mouse-Merized Cat - cartoon blue cat shocked at sight of Catstello mouse barking at him
The Mouse-Merized Cat - cartoon blue cat growling at Catstello mouse

The hypnotism wears off and Catstello scrambles back to the mousehole where Babbit zaps him again. This time the cat is also reading a book on hypnotism and uses his power to change Catstello back into himself.

The Mouse-Merized Cat - cartoon blue cat with book looking at Catstello mouse
The Mouse-Merized Cat - cartoon blue cat using hypnotism on Catstello mouse

This leads Catstello into running back and forth between Babbit and the cat, being hypnotized by both into a dog and back again. Finally the two are on either side of Catstello when he pulls out two hand mirrors and uses them to bounce the hypnotic zaps back on Babbit and the cat.

The Mouse-Merized Cat - cartoon blue cat and mouse Babbit being hypnotised by mirrors by Catstello mouse

He tells the cat he is a horse and Babbit that he’s a cowboy and the two ride through the front window, leaving Catstello to enjoy the deli in peace.

The Mouse-Merized Cat - cartoon blue cat as horse with Babbit mouse as cowboy on his back

Final Mewsings: Cats hypnotize us into being their servants all the time!

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