Cats/WMG

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


Griddlebone was complicit in the Siamese attack on Growltiger's barge.

During "Growltiger's Last Stand", Growltiger is too distracted romancing Griddlebone to notice the Siamese slipping aboard his vessel, and Griddlebone escapes during the resultant confusion. Wouldn't the Siamese have made a point of taking her hostage to ensure Growltiger's surrender? A fluffy white cat like her would have stuck out like a sore thumb in even the most modest of lighting. Later on, during "Macavity: The Mystery Cat", Griddlebone is mentioned as one of his accomplices. This indicates two things:

  1. Macavity is not much younger than Deuteronomy, as Asparagus, already established as past middle-aged by feline standards had played Growltiger in his youth.
  2. Macavity conspired with the Siamese to ensure the ultimate downfall of Growltiger, using their mutual hatred as a lynchpin. Why? Because Growltiger refused to work with him to secure the Thames for his own use.

Macavity knew that Growltiger, as a sailor and, by his territorial behavior, likely an intact tom, would crave the company of a lady cat. Enter Griddlebone. Griddlebone was directed to romance and distract Growltiger, who would likely order his crew to give the two of them some privacy for their interlude. In the meantime, she kept in close touch with Macavity in the days leading up to her meeting with Growltiger, establishing a set of signals to let the Siamese know the time was right to sneak aboard the vessel. The Siamese had been ordered not to touch her on pain of Dire Consequences from Macavity. Whether they complied or not is unknown, but her role in Growltiger's downfall is apparently later discovered by the rest of the cat community.

  • "Then Griddlebone she gave a screech, for she was badly skewered. I'm sorry to admit it but she quickly disappeared. She probably escaped with ease, I'm sure she was not drowned..."
    • "Badly skeered" (scared), not "skewered". And she might well be "skeered" even if she knows the Siamese are suppposed to let her go.
  • A community theater production of Cats near this troper's home had this. Griddlebone spent a good deal of the Italian aria glancing over her shoulder and beckoning urgently at the Siamese.

Concerning familial relations (parent-child, brother-sister) among cats:

Parent - Child theories:

  • Old Deuteronomy - Macavity, Munkustrap, Rum Tum Tugger and Mr. Mistoffelees, as all seem to be very powerful and important Jellicles
  • Macavity - Quaxo/Mr. Mistoffelees, because both have magical powers.
  • Grizabella - Rum Tum Tugger, as he has a mane and she seems to have a mane-ish thing

Siblings:

  • Old Deuteronomy and Macavity - sort of a Cain and Abel, except Macavity's probably the younger one.
  • Munkustrap and Rum Tum Tugger - the leading male cats. Munkustrap is the older, the eldest son of Old Deuteronomy, and grew up with the knowledge that he would lead the Jellicles one day. Rum Tum Tugger is the younger, and became a rebel. However, he has matured somewhat, and will make an excellent Lancer for his older brother.
  • Tumblebrutus and Pouncival - Their markings are too similar for them not to be related in some way.

Concerning friendship/romantic relationships among cats:

  • Bombalurina seems a bit excited when singing about Macavity - Evil Is Sexy?
    • And Demeter seems to know a lot about him...
  • Ho Yay - Rum Tum Tugger and Mr. Mistoffelees - the fact that someone as egotistical and self-centered as RTT would sing a song highly praising another cat, plus the fact that they dance together...
  • Victoria and... everyone. Mistoffelees, Plato, and a brief (two-ish seconds) helping of Munkustrap.

Religious imagery

Probably obvious, but Old Deuteronomy as Jesus/a saint, Macavity as Satan, and the Heavyside Layer as heaven. Alternativly, the Heavyside Layer could be reincarnation.

  • The latter is explicitly stated in one of the bits of narration -- the Layer is described as a place where a cat can come be reborn to a new Jellicle life.

Demeter is Munkunstrap for the queen kittens

Demeter is clearly a pretty kick-ass queen (at one point trying to scratch Tugger for annoying her, when the other adult queens just ignore him). However, whatever happened between her and Macavity screwed her up pretty much permanently, which is why Bombalurina sings part of the Macavity song. So Demeter has an extreme grudge against Macavity, and, realizing that he could easily hurt a younger, dumber kitten (looking at you, Victoria), protects them the way Munkunstrap protects the tribe. This also explains her friendship\mating with Munkunstrap--because they have such similar jobs, they're good friends\logical mates.

Cassandra is the sister of Hector from Heathcliff and The Catillac Cats

Both are tall and slender with Siamese markings. Plus, their names hint that they may be brother and sister. (It's from The Iliad! Read a book!)

  • In which case, there may also be some connection between Mungojerrie and Mungo, although they're very different.

Admetus is gay

  • In the CATS Video, if you look closely at the background during the end of "Rum Tum Tugger", you can see he gets very excited.

Plato is Macavity in disguise

  • Through out the whole musical, he is there watching and waiting for the right moment to strike. When he tries and fails, he goes back to his "Plato" disguise.

Cats takes place in the same universe as Warrior Cats

Mistoffelees is genetically a queen

  • Seven kittens, remember?
    • This works very well when you consider that his T.S. Eliot poem DOES pretty much demonstrate that "he" is a female cat. He tends to be small and not too masculine looking. With his magic, he could make himself look like a tom if he didn't want the others to know he was really a queen. Until the whole kittens thing, anyway, which makes it more a case of Your Tomcat Is Pregnant.
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