That Darn Cat (1997) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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