Top Cat and the Beverly Hills Cats

Top Cat and the Beverly Hills Cats

Year: 1988

Runtime: 92 mins

Language: English

Directors: Charles August Nichols, Paul Sommer

AnimationAdventureFamilyComedyMusic

An ordinary day in Hoagie Alley turns into a wild adventure in Beverly Hills when a wealthy dowager leaves her fortune to Benny the Ball, but only if he stays alive for 48 hours. Her only heir, niece Amy, has disappeared. If Benny dies, the scheming butler Snerdly and his Russian wolfhound will claim it. The gang races to rescue Benny and find Amy.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Top Cat and the Beverly Hills Cats (1988)

Trace every key event in Top Cat and the Beverly Hills Cats (1988) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Top Cat gang goes undercover as Boy Scouts in Hoagie's Alley

The Top Cat gang disguises itself as Boy Scouts and roams Hoagie's Alley doing good deeds, hoping for rewards. Benny the Ball saves the life of a bag lady who is later revealed to be Gertrude Vandergelt, a wealthy woman with plans to leave her fortune to someone she can't locate. This sets the stage for the fortune and the danger to come.

Hoagie's Alley
2

Dibble retires, charges dropped

Officer Dibble arrives to end the gang's shenanigans, but learns his retirement has been approved. With retirement in place, he drops the charges against Top Cat and the gang, ending the immediate trouble. The gang is momentarily free to continue their activities.

Hoagie's Alley
3

Mysterious death and inheritance news

A few days later, Benny learns from a gypsy store that Gertrude Vandergelt has died and named him the heir, provided he avoids misfortune for the next two days. The revelation sparks plans to move Benny to the Vandergelt mansion. The stakes of the inheritance begin to rise quickly.

Gypsy store
4

TC and gang move to Vandergelt mansion

Benny and the gang travel to the Vandergelt mansion where Dibble now serves as a security guard. There they meet the conniving butler Snerdly and his Rasputin-like wolfhound, Rasputin. The estate becomes the center of the unfolding plot.

Vandergelt mansion
5

The will's condition explained

Sid Buckman reads the will, confirming Benny's inheritance if nothing bad happens within two days. Snerdly begins plotting to eliminate Benny as the obstacle and to seize the fortune for himself. The clock starts ticking on the two-day condition.

Vandergelt mansion
6

Kitty Glitter scheme begins

Snerdly calls Kitty Glitter, hoping she will wed a rich cat and secure a future with wealth. Kitty eagerly dresses for a wedding, but confusion arises when she mistakes Brain for Top Cat, complicating the crooked scheme. The plan to control Benny's fortune deepens.

Vandergelt mansion
7

Costume party and Benny's capture

Snerdly hosts a costume party, forcing Benny to wear a bulldog mask. He then calls the local dogcatcher and his Doberman to pursue the supposed mutt, escalating the danger to Benny. The escape plan becomes a high-stakes chase.

Vandergelt mansion
8

Benny goes to the pound; TC learns of the kidnapping

Benny is captured by the dogcatcher and taken to the pound. Thanks to a tip from Dibble, Top Cat and the gang learn of Benny's location and rush to the pound to stage a rescue. The pursuit intensifies as the dogcatcher closes in.

Pound
9

Amy revealed at the car wash

During the escape, the missing Amy is revealed to be working at a car wash as part of Snerdly's plot. The gang recognizes her from a portrait at the mansion and decides to bring Amy back to the Vandergelt estate to establish the rightful heir.

Car wash
10

Midnight twist: Gertrude alive, Snerdly exposed

The group arrives at midnight to find the inheritance complication unresolved. Sid Buckman is revealed to be Gertrude Vandergelt alive in disguise, having faked her death to unmask Snerdly and expose his crooked scheme. The true heir is restored to the rightful path, at least for the moment.

midnight Vandergelt mansion
11

Arrest of Snerdly and Rasputin

In a last-ditch effort, Snerdly tries to disguise himself using the bulldog mask, but he and Rasputin are captured by the dogcatcher. The criminals' plan collapses as law enforcement closes in. The estate's danger zone finally subsides.

Vandergelt estate
12

Return to Hoagie's Alley; Dibble rejoins the force

Top Cat and the gang return to their old lifestyle in Hoagie's Alley, and Dibble rejoins the police force. Kitty Glitter resurfaces with plans to wed the wealthy cat, but learns they are now broke and ends the pursuit. The neighborhood settles back into its familiar rhythm.

Hoagie's Alley
13

Amy's picnic with TC and friends

Amy visits the alley to have a picnic with Top Cat, the gang, and Dibble, signaling a return to normalcy and friendship among all involved. The group enjoys a quiet moment together after the adventure. The film closes on a note of restored camaraderie.

Hoagie's Alley

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:17

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Top Cat and the Beverly Hills Cats

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