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That Darn Cat (1997) movie poster

Plot Summary

That Darn Cat (1997) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
1997 · 89 min · English
Directed by
Bob Spiers
Starring
Christina Ricci, John Ratzenberger, Michael McKean, Dyan Cannon, Peter Boyle, Megan Cavanagh

Returning home to her unusual family, Erica finds herself caught in a whirlwind of confusion when her playful cat, Sherman, causes a series of mishaps. A misplaced pregnancy test further complicates matters, leading to rumors and misunderstandings. As the family struggles to navigate the escalating chaos and Sherman's antics, they must confront the truth behind the escalating situation and restore order.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch That Darn Cat (1997)

Where can you watch That Darn Cat? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Disney Plus, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in That Darn Cat: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of That Darn Cat (1997) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Meet Darn Cat (DC), a playful Siamese tomcat who rules the roost in the Randall household, which is home to sisters Ingrid and Patricia. By night, DC embarks on whimsical escapades around town, amusing himself by teasing local dogs, snagging snacks, and leaving his mark on unsuspecting vehicles.

One fateful evening, driven by his curiosity, DC follows the notorious bank robber Iggy into an apartment where Iggy and his accomplice Dan have taken hostage Margaret Miller, a bank employee. Seizing a moment of chance, Miss Miller cleverly switches DC's collar with her watch, desperately inscribing letters to spell "HELP" amidst a flurry of worry.

Upon his return home, DC's antics continue to unfold. While the Randalls are oblivious to the cat's adventure, Patti discovers the watch and suspects it belongs to the kidnapped woman. Determined to take action, she speaks with Agent Zeke Kelso at the FBI, and thus, Supervisor Newton assigns Kelso the task of tailing DC, in hopes that the clever feline will lead them to the robbers' lair.

Kelso sets up camp in the Randall home, assembling a team to monitor DC's every move. However, the mischievous cat proves too crafty to catch, constantly evading their traps through humorous and embarrassing episodes. The grand conclusion features a thrilling chase that winds through backyards and a drive-in theater, eventually leading to a funny encounter with Gregory Benson, the owner of a pigeon coop, who hilariously chases both DC and Kelso away.

As the operation continues, Agent Kelso's supervisor Newton grows frustrated and decides to discontinue their efforts, claiming the watch to be an unreliable lead. Not one to give up, Patti disguises herself as a colorful niece of her jeweler friend Mr. Hoffsteddar, embedding herself in the FBI's investigation and asserting that the watch is indeed significant evidence. Thus, Newton and Kelso embark on one last surveillance mission from the Randall's home, tracing DC across several neighborhoods until they finally locate the robbers' hideout.

In a thrilling climax, Kelso arrives just in time to rescue Miss Miller, with Patti gallantly following closely behind, determined to protect her newfound hero. After a brief scuffle, the kidnappers are apprehended, and Miss Miller is freed from her ordeal.

After this exhilarating adventure, Patti reconciles with her on-again, off-again boyfriend Canoe, who had been grappling with jealousy due to the secretive nature of the FBI's investigation. Meanwhile, Agent Kelso discovers new love with Ingrid, as DC embarks on a new chapter of his life with a lovely gray cat he has encountered during his nightly escapades.

Last updated: November 17, 2024 at 21:59

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Plot questions answered

That Darn Cat Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about That Darn Cat (1997): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

How did Darn Cat end up at the kidnappers' apartment?

Darn Cat followed the notorious bank robber Iggy into the apartment out of curiosity. DC was known for his nighttime adventures around town, and on this particular evening, his investigative nature led him straight to the crime scene where Iggy and his accomplice Dan were holding Margaret Miller hostage.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes establish DC's habit of wandering the neighborhood at night, getting into various escapades.

  • Darn Cat
  • Iggy
  • bank robber
  • apartment
  • curiosity
Q2

How did Margaret Miller use the cat to send a help message?

While being held hostage, Margaret cleverly switched Darn Cat's collar with her watch. Using the watch's face, she inscribed letters to spell 'HELP' in a desperate attempt to communicate her dire situation to anyone who might find the cat.

Foreshadowing: Margaret's quick thinking is established early as a key character trait.

  • Margaret Miller
  • watch
  • HELP message
  • collar
  • hostage
Q3

Why did the FBI take the watch seriously as evidence?

Patti discovered the watch and suspected it belonged to a kidnapped woman. She contacted Agent Zeke Kelso at the FBI and convinced Supervisor Newton that the watch was significant evidence. Patti's persistence and the fact that the watch had 'HELP' inscribed on it made the FBI believe it was connected to a real kidnapping case.

Foreshadowing: Patti's determination to help was established when she first found the watch.

  • FBI
  • watch
  • evidence
  • Patti
  • Kelso
  • Newton
Q4

How did Patti get involved in the FBI investigation?

After the FBI decided to discontinue the case, believing the watch was an unreliable lead, Patti disguised herself as the colorful niece of her jeweler friend Mr. Hoffsteddar. This allowed her to embed herself in the FBI investigation and convince them to conduct one final surveillance mission.

Foreshadowing: Patti had already shown her determination by contacting the FBI initially.

  • Patti
  • disguise
  • FBI
  • Mr. Hoffsteddar
  • investigation
Q5

Why did the FBI decide to abandon the case before the final rescue?

Supervisor Newton grew frustrated with the surveillance operation because Darn Cat constantly evaded capture. Newton deemed the watch an unreliable lead and decided to discontinue the efforts, forcing Patti to take matters into her own hands and disguise herself to continue the investigation.

Foreshadowing: The ongoing comedic failures to catch DC built up Newton's frustration throughout the film.

  • Newton
  • FBI
  • case dropped
  • surveillance
  • watch
Q6

How did Agent Kelso and Patti finally locate the robbers' hideout?

Convinced by Patti's insistence, Newton and Kelso embarked on a final surveillance mission from the Randall home. They traced Darn Cat through several neighborhoods, and the cat eventually led them directly to the robbers' hideout where Margaret was being held.

Foreshadowing: DC's nightly adventures always returned him home, making him a reliable tracking subject.

  • Kelso
  • Patti
  • hideout
  • surveillance
  • neighborhoods
  • rescue
Q7

Why was Canoe jealous during the FBI investigation?

Canoe was Patti's on-again, off-again boyfriend. He became jealous because the FBI investigation was secretive, and Patti was spending considerable time working closely with Agent Kelso on the case. The mysterious nature of the investigation made Canoe feel excluded and suspicious.

Foreshadowing: The romantic tension between Patti and Canoe was established early in the film.

  • Canoe
  • Patti
  • jealousy
  • boyfriend
  • investigation
Q8

What happened to Darn Cat at the end of the movie?

At the end of the movie, Darn Cat embarked on a new chapter of his life. During his nightly escapades, he encountered a lovely gray cat, suggesting the beginning of a new relationship for the feline protagonist.

Foreshadowing: DC's nighttime adventures consistently involved encounters with other animals around town.

  • Darn Cat
  • gray cat
  • new chapter
  • ending
  • romance
Q9

How did Darn Cat manage to evade the FBI so many times?

Darn Cat proved too crafty and clever for the FBI agents. He constantly evaded their traps through a series of humorous and embarrassing episodes. The cat's natural agility, intelligence, and familiarity with the neighborhood allowed him to outsmart the agents at every turn, leading to comedic chaos during the surveillance operation.

Foreshadowing: The introduction established DC as a mischievous and clever cat who ruled the household.

  • Darn Cat
  • FBI
  • evasion
  • capture
  • clever
  • chase
Q10

What role did Patti play in rescuing Margaret Miller?

Patti played a crucial role in the rescue. After disguising herself to stay in the investigation, she followed Agent Kelso to the robbers' hideout. She arrived just in time to assist in the rescue operation, helping to apprehend the kidnappers and free Margaret from her ordeal.

Foreshadowing: Patti's determination to help from the very beginning set up her involvement in the climax.

  • Patti
  • Margaret
  • rescue
  • kidnappers
  • help
  • final mission
Q11

Why did Iggy and Dan kidnap Margaret Miller?

Iggy and Dan were bank robbers who took Margaret Miller, a bank employee, hostage. They held her in their apartment as part of their criminal operation, using her as leverage or to conceal their whereabouts after the bank robbery.

Foreshadowing: The movie establishes Iggy as a notorious bank robber from the beginning.

  • Iggy
  • Dan
  • Margaret
  • bank robber
  • kidnapping
  • hostage

Movie threads

More Movies Like That Darn Cat, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes That Darn Cat tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Whimsical Animal-Centric Chaos Movies like That Darn Cat

Stories where a mischievous animal causes a comedic chain reaction of events. If you enjoyed the mischievous antics of the cat in That Darn Cat, you'll love these movies where a clever pet drives the plot. Find similar family comedies and adventures featuring animal-led chaos, lighthearted misunderstandings, and feel-good resolutions.

  • whimsical
  • mischievous
  • chaotic
  • lighthearted
  • adventurous
  • animal antics
  • Tone: whimsical, lighthearted
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a linear sequence of events triggered by the animal's behavior. Human characters, often initially frustrated, are pulled into a whimsical mystery or adventure. The plot is propelled by chases, escapes, and humorous misunderstandings, all culminating in a happy resolution where the animal is the unsung hero.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a animal protagonist whose actions drive a light, fast-paced, and comedic plot. They share a whimsical tone, low emotional weight, and a structure where animal intelligence and mischief create the central conflict and solution.

Lighthearted Crime Caper Movies like That Darn Cat

Comedic capers where incompetent officials bumble through a low-stakes mystery. Looking for more movies like That Darn Cat? This list features similar lighthearted crime capers and comedic investigations. Discover films with bumbling FBI agents, silly misunderstandings, and a fast-paced, family-friendly blend of mystery and humor.

  • quirky
  • bumbling
  • lighthearted
  • misunderstanding
  • crime investigation
  • slapstick
  • Tone: whimsical, comedic
  • Pacing: fast, gag-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative involves a crime or mystery that is investigated by characters who are comically ill-suited for the task. Their failures and misinterpretations provide the main source of humor, often while a more capable but unconventional character (or animal) actually solves the case. The resolution is satisfying and happy, reinforcing that the danger was never too severe.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their unique blend of a crime plot with a predominantly comedic tone. The similarity comes from the portrayal of law enforcement as a source of humor, a straightforward mystery, and a pacing that favors quick gags and chases over deep suspense.

Every angle

That Darn Cat (1997) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about That Darn Cat in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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