Kit for Cat

Friz Freleng's 'Kit for Cat' is a largely forgotten classic. One of my favourite Freleng cartoons, it pits Sylvester against an unnamed orange kitten as they vie for the position of Elmer Fudd's pet. Michael Maltese and Tedd Pierce have come up with a corking script filled with unexpected gags as Sylvester tries to make the kitten look bad and only succeeds in incriminating himself. I've always preferred Sylvester's appearances without the comedically draining presence Tweety and 'Kit for Cat' is a perfect example of how hilarious the red-nosed cat is when not forced into the constrictive role of birdnapper. 'Kit for Cat' features Sylvester at his most well rounded. The reactions and expressions he goes through are constantly hilarious (just look at the way his face droops into genuine sadness and resignation when he is caught tampering with Elmer's light) and thus the audience roots for him over the smug kitten despite the extreme lengths he's willing to go to in order to get rid of the little pest. Elmer is also great in this cartoon, playing the good-hearted but stern authority figure to a tee. It all builds to a sensational climax involving a player piano, a murderous radio show and a firearm that keeps changing hands. This is Freleng at the top of his game and those who are willing to write him off as a less interesting director need only look to this stunning sequence for prove to the contrary. The final punchline is also unexpected and an extremely refreshing alternative to the Sylvester-gets-ejected conclusion most people will be expecting. All in all, 'Kit for Cat' is a beautiful example of a director at his very best and is up there with 'Yankee Doodle Daffy' as some of Freleng's best work.

In this one, Sylvester and a cute little kitten are searching for food in an alley when it starts getting cold. After the big cat kicks out the kitten for invading his territory, he knocks on a house door in an attempt to get in. It's Elmer Fudd at the door! He lets Sylvester in and tells him he can stay as long as he wants. Another knock comes on at that point. It's the cute little kitten! Now Elmer has to make up his mind since he can't keep both. Sylvester gets jealous when Mr. Fudd seems to be really taken with the kitten. So smitten that anything that the big cat tries to frame him with backfires in spades! The rest of the cartoon builds into a crescendo of calamities mostly caused by Sylvester that you have to see to believe. On that note, I highly recommend Kit for Cat. Directed by Friz Freling.

As a big fan of Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies, I naturally wanted to see Kit for Cat after seeing it lauded as one of Freleng's best and most memorable. After seeing it, I agree, while starting off a tad slow, it picks up very quickly right up until the corker of an ending, which is both hilarious and intense. The animation is beautifully done in especially the colours, which are rich and plentiful. The music has a huge amount of energy and fits very well with every scene it features in, the writing and quotes are one big jewel after another and just get better and better and the sight gags are clever(ie. balancing of the falling plates). Sylvester is very well-rounded here, the other feline is a worthy contrast while Elmer while maintaining the dim-witted character that makes him so endearing is also quite kindly. All in all, very, very entertaining. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Not being an "Elmer Fudd"-type, myself - i know exactly which one of these 2 abandoned pussycats I'd choose as my new-found house-pet (and it certainly wouldn't be the slobbering Sylvester).

Anyway - In "Kit For Cat" it's a freezing cold winter's night. And, as it turns out - The clueless (but kind) Mr. Fudd unknowingly makes the grave mistake of welcoming both of these conniving kitties into his warm and cozy home.

Well - It certainly doesn't take long for all hell to break loose when both Sylvester and the cute, little kitten get it into their feline heads that the other one must go at all costs.

Enjoyably entertaining - 1948's "Kit For Cat" was competently directed by popular Warner Bros. animator, Friz Freleng.

Having seen "Back Alley Oproar" and "Kit for Cat", I wish that Elmer Fudd and Sylvester could have co-starred more often. This one has Sylvester and an orange kitten vying for adoption by Elmer one cold night, and they both keep trying to frame each other for making noise, in the hope that Elmer will throw out the other. I never predicted what would happen at the end! One thing that I wondered while watching the cartoon was about the radio show with which they try to awaken Elmer. It features a character named "Melvin". Knowing that the Man of 1,000 Voices himself - Mel Blanc, that is - provided the vocalizations here, I wonder whether or not that character was named after him.

Oh well. I probably shouldn't get hung up on that. The point is that this is a hilarious cartoon.