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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
    • apart form the curl in the fringe Old Deuteronomys wig look like a more ragged grey version of Rum Tum Tuggers so this troper always thought it was intentional family resemblance.
  • 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
  • Some fans think that either Jemima or Electra is Demeter's kitten. (The dad varies from Munkustrap/Alonzo/Macavity.)
  • Jellylorum is the daughter of Gus the theatre cat. They have a close caring relationship and she has heard his stories enough to able to prompt him and fill in the blanks when he falters probably because she heard them all many times whilst growing up. Similarly Victoria and Etcetera are her kittens. Etcetera has similar colouring and Jellylorum is the queen with the most white in her coat. Also whilst Jellylorum is very protective of the younger cats its mainly Etcetera and Victoria that she focuses her attention on trying to protect them from Macavity and Grizzabella and she is the one they run to when scared.

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.
    • Similarly, sometimes Electra and Etcetera are considered related, because of their rather similar names and how they seem to have a Sibling Yin-Yang thing going on. (Electra being dark and quiet, Etcetera being pale and hyperactive.)
    • Similarly, at least in the 1998 video, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer have very similar markings.
  • If you don't think they're a couple, sometimes Victoria and Mistoffelees are thought of as siblings.
  • the younger Asparagus that appears is the son of Gus the theatre cat and the brother of Jellylorum. They are very similar coloring and agewise.

Concerning friendship/romantic relationships among cats:

  • Bombalurina seems a bit excited when singing about Macavity - does she find him hot?
    • 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.
  • How about everyone/everyone? Well, they are cats. Cats don't know what monogamy is.
  • Munkustrap and Demeter are conmanly believed to be mates, hugely fueled by the affected cuddling between them after Macavity's attack.
  • Possibly Grizabella and Macavity? No real reason in the text to think so, but it would be one possible explanation why the rest of the cats haven't forgiven her and are even a little afraid of her to this day. Demeter in particular has trouble facing her at first (and is comforted by Bombalurina after she tries), but seems to know a great deal about her, which would tie into the theories that Demeter has an abusive past with Macavity herself.
  • Jellylorum/Asparagus - This troper has always felt they were a couple and the pair take care of the older Gus together (especially fueled by the 1998 film).

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 Heavyside Layer is definitely reincarnation. The cat chosen to go "...can now be reborn and come back to a different 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 & 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.

George 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
  • Possibly, provided Warrior Cats takes place in the same universe as Tailchaser's Song.
    • Alternatively, it takes place in the same universe as Felidae, and the Jellicle Cats are an offshoot of the Claudandus sect. Some of their religious beliefs and rituals regarding death and rebirth could be seen as eerily lining up with those of the sect.

Mistoffelees is transgender
  • Seven kittens, remember?
    • This works very well when you consider that his T.S. Eliot poem DOES imply some "feminine" features. He tends to be small and not too "masculine" looking. With his magic, he could easily pass if he didn't want the others to know.

Victoria is deaf and mute
  • Cats with pure white fur are often deaf. It explains why we never hear her sing. It even explains why she didn't clear out when Macavity was coming. She couldn't hear the warnings. However, like Heather Whitestone, she didn't let a little thing like being deaf keep her from learning how to dance.

Demeter has a Dark and Troubled Past with Macavity.
It's pretty heavily implied, anyway. It's always Demeter who shouts, "Macavity!", she sings about him with Bomba and she's the one who sees through his disguise almost instantly. Munkustrap and Bombalurina seem pretty protective of Demeter- whenever lightning flashes and Macavity does his Evil Laugh, they quickly turn to her to make sure she's all right. Plus, Macavity makes a point of trying to drag Demeter off when he is unmasked.

Cats with magic powers have extended lifespans.
Mostly Macavity here, but since it's implied that he knew Growltiger and Griddlebone, as well as having a personal grudge against Old Deuteronomy, it's likely that Macavity, if not immortal, has a supernaturally long lifespan or somehow ages much more slowly than a normal cat. Gus doesn't do the same kind of dancing that Macavity is capable of, despite their implied age similiarities, nor does Old Deuteronomy. Macavity may have found a way to use magic to keep himself young enough to continue his life of crime. Mr. Mistoffelees might have a similar potential, since he's described as quiet and small and often hangs around with the kittens, yet isn't considered one- the other cats don't scramble to shield him in the same way they do for, say, Jemima or Victoria.
  • A minor quibble, but the older cats DO shield Mistoffelees— Munkustrap protects him from Grizebella when she first shows up.
    • Or similarly, he breaks the laws of aging.

He's just a big ol' brute who makes things up to make himself look good. (For full effect, say in creepy stage whisper.)
  • How does he vanish and appear in different places at once, then? Magic exists in this universe. Next you'll be saying that Bellatrix Lestrange has mastered "deceitfulness and suavity" because she can Apparate. If Macavity were to, say, drop a brick on someone, nobody would ever mistake it for an accident because he'd be standing around cackling.

Not only is Macavity a cat version of Moriarty, but he is also Moriarty's cat.
And to make matters even awesomer, he belongs to Moriarty as played by Andrew Scott in Sherlock
  • Adding to this crossover WMG, what if Macavity is actually Molly's cat, Toby? And Macavity is actually Toby's secret name? Moriarty did spend a lot of time around Toby at one point.

The Jellicle cats are a group of human furries.
They're all just humans LARPing as their catsonas in a junkyard and getting REALLY into it. After the ball they wash off the makeup and go back to their mediocre human lives.

Cats the 2019 film adaptation is The King in Yellow
One reviewer wrote in regards to this movie "Then Rebel Wilson unzipped herself and stepped out of her fursuit and proceeded to consume hundreds of tiny human/cockroach composites she trained to dance for her amusement." Another described how after watching the movie "It gave me a raging headache, I slept terribly after witnessing it". Another viewer described leaving the theater to hear a woman incoherently yelling "WHY DO THE CATS HAVE HUMAN FEET, WHY DO SOME OF THEM HAVE JOBS, WHAT DO THEY DO WITH THE MONEY, WHY IS IAN MCKELLAN LAPPING MILK ALONE IN THE CLOSET, JUST WHY". They found it delightful. There are hundreds, thousands of similar accounts mere days after the film's release. Is this what it means for a work of fiction to be capable of driving those who behold it mad? Professional writers publishing gibbering nonsense. Viewers being unable to sleep, yelling in confusion in broad daylight. Is this an adaptation of an absurdist Broadway musical? A book of poems T. S. Eliot wrote for his children? Neither of these versions have caused such frankly Brown Note effects. Director Tom Hooper has been noted for having increasingly bizarre cinematic aesthetics for no discernible reason for years now. Is this even a film anymore? I am now going to see the movie for myself. I have to know. God help us. God help us all.

Cats the 2019 film adaptation takes place After the End
...While also somehow being set in Edwardian-era London. There are 0 humans throughout the entire film.
  • You do see the legs of the woman who abandons Victoria. Speaking of her....

In the film, Victoria is a snowy Bengal.
They didn't want to deal with the white cats are deaf angle, so Victoria isn't pure white but has some stripes on her tail and rosette markings on her back. The typical Bengal is curious, inquisitive and playful much like Victoria. Ironically, Bengals have no hearing problems but a tendency to develop vision problems.

The cats in the film are not actually cats, but some variety of the Fair Folk.
There are no humans in the movie because they're hiding. They all know what night the Jallicle Ball happens, and they know that gazing upon the "cats" for any length of time will drive the average person to madness.
  • Alternatively, of course, the Fair Folk have always secretly manifested as the creatures we know as cats.

The Mice and Cockroaches hate/fear Jennyanydots.
If she’s chosen she will no longer prey upon them as she so casually does. So they entertain her “lessons” and teachings in hopes that she will be the Jellicle Choice and thus leave them alone. It’s incredibly clear from their facial expressions that they are in utter horror being around her no matte how nice and quirky she seems. She even refers to the mice as dinner and a show.

Feline Magic is powered by the Power of Belief .
That is, if humans or other cats believe a cat has magical powers, they will begin to manifest them. Macavity was originally just a troublemaking cat not unlike Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, but smarter and subtler. He was simply clever and sneaky enough to avoid being found at the scene of the crime. As humans started jokingly referring to him as a 'Demon in Feline-Shape', or as if he has flying and teleportation powers, he started to become an actually magically-inclined cat and from there his crimes only grew. Bombalurina and Demeter might have just meant to warn the other cats (espacially the younger kittens) about Macavity, but they accidently made him powerful enough to kidnap Old Deuteronomy. (And in the 2019 Movie, Bombalurina works for Macavity, and the song is an intentional 'power-up' on her part). At the end of the Movie, he seemed to lose his powers of teleportation, prehaps because the other cats stopped being afraid of him and that significantly weakened his magic.

Old Deuteronomy was just a regular old cat a long, long time ago. But because he was kinda unusually old for a cat and looked very serene and wise, humans and cats alike started revearing him and running rumors about just how old he is - granting him immortality.

Mr. Mistoffelees' Magic was originally just the things described in his song; that is just being a sneaky and quiet cat, taking small objects and leaving them in unusual places, people thinking he's in one part of the house while he was actually elsewhere - which are all mundane cat-stuff. However, as his family started to call him 'Magical' because he kept doing those things, he started to develop actual magical powers. But it's only his humans and Rum Tum Tugger (or Victoria and Munkustrap in the 2019 version) who believe he's 'actually magic', and so his powers are more limited than Macavity. Singing 'Magical Mister Mistoffelees' was more then just Rule of Cool or Music for Courage, the other cats had to be convinced that Mr. Mistoffelees IS magical for him to be powerful enough to overcome Macavity.

The Jellicle Cats and their homes .
It's common to assume all or most of the Jellicle Cats are street-cats (in fact, a lot of translations of Cats who don't want to bother with translating the nonsense word 'Jellicle' decide to just call them 'the Street Cats'), but a lot of them have songs that indicate that they are cared for by humans. To go over them in more detail

  • Jennyanydots, the Old Gumbie Cat, is obviously domestic cat that lives with a human family.
  • The Rum Tum Tugger's song has lyrics that only make sense if he had human caretakers and a house ("When you let me in then I wanna go out\I'm always on the wrong side of every door\And as soon as I get home then I like to get about") but there's nothing to say that he's a housecat CURRENTLY. My WMG is that he has been adopted and abandoned many times by humans who ended up exasperated by his antics (which he tries to paint as a point of pride for himself). "If you put me in a house I would much prefer a flat\If you put me in a flat then I'd rather have house" because he switches homes so frequently.
  • Grizabella the Glamour Cat was originally a beautiful Jellicle Street-Cat. She was adopted by a rich human, where she decided to cut ties with her fellow Jellicles. But due to age or sickness hurting her beauty, she was cruelly abandoned by her owner and forced back to the street, while the Jellicles have yet to forgive her for abandoning them. She lives on the harsher sides of London to avoid her former owner and possibly Jellicle territory.
  • Bustopher Jones is, after all, the "St. James *Street Cat*". For the Jellicles, being a Domestic Cat doesn't necasserly equate to a higher status or a Street Cat to a lower status. Bustopher Jones is a Street Cat who lives on one of the most prestigious streets in London and is well-beloved by all the restaurant and club owners, who feed him regularly. Housecats like Jennyanydots consider themselves as having 'jobs' (that is, taking care of the mice, rats and bugs at the house. Jenny just has a unique approach to it), making someone like Bustopher - who gets fed delicious leftovers by humans without having to catch a single rodent - the cat equivalent of the Idle Rich.
  • Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer 'Make [their] home in Victoria Grove\This is merely [their] centre of operation, for [they] are incurably given to rove.' suggesting that they live with a human family there, but often roam away from their home to cause trouble to other families as well as their own. Since they say they 'have no regular occupation', they might be Housecats who don't do the regular mouse-hunting job of a Housecat.
  • Old Deuteronomy's song mentions he is currently living in 'the village' rather than London. Prehaps that's another reason for the Jellicles to be so excited for the Jellicle Ball, they don't get to see their beloved leader often since he lives away from the city. But he doesn't seem to live with any spesific family there, he's just kind of the 'village's cat' (or possibly the whole village is Deuteronomy's). Of course, with how long-lived he is, it's possible that he had a human family at least for a while.
  • Gus the Theatre Cat and Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat are both in a similar situation; they are not street-cats, but also not house-cats. They live in public establishments (the theatre for Gus and the Night Mail Train for Skimbleshanks), technically 'employed' as mousers (although Gus is too old for that now) but consider themselves as working in the field of that establishment (Gus is an actor because he's also the theatre's go-to cat for productions and Skimbleshanks thinks he's the real boss of the railway.).
  • Macavity is described as neglected and disheveled, so he probably doesn't have any humans taking care of him, and if he does - they're probably not taking very good care of him.
  • Mr. Mistoffelees's song, much like the Rum Tum Tugger's, suggest that he has a house and a human family taking care of him ("I've known the family to call\Him in from the garden for hours\While he was asleep in the hall"). Since the Rum Tum Tugger is the one cat who knows about how Mistoffelees' magical antics confound his family, it's possible that he used to live at the same household as Mistoffelees or even that he is currently living with him. Perhaps the Rum Tum Tugger speaks so fondly of Mistoffelees because he helped him find a human family who can tolerate his antics, since they already have to deal with Mistoffelees as another 'difficult' cat.

In the film, Grizabella was supposed to push Macavity off the balloon.
The movie makes canon the fanon that her Dark and Troubled Past and fall from grace heavily involved him. In the end, he tries to hijack the balloon, she looks down, but then he slips and falls to his Disney Villain Death on his own — more than a little anticlimactic after everything he's done and how much he's been built up. Having the character whose life he ruined turn it around on him would have made more sense. It's possible that since the film was marketed to a family audience, censors didn't want a sympathetic character getting her hands dirty.

Under the assumption that Macavity and Grizabella were lovers once, Macavity was a Domestic Abuser
With Macavity's monstrous repertoire, it wouldn't be surprising for him to stoop this low, and he is said to have broken every human law. It would certainly explain why Grizabella seems so broken now and why she's no longer allied with him or the Jellicles (Macavity likely threw her out when she ceased to benefit him or he simply got bored with her).
Skimbleshanks is a previous winner of the Jellicle Choice.
He looks so happy aboard his train. He also doesn't even show up on time, so winning doesn't seem to be a great priority for him.

Grizabella's fall from grace was being Macavity's moll on the sly, but no one believes she wasn't complicit.

  • Entirely because of her costume design, I'll admit; the big fur coat, the sassy heels despite being way too old to walk in them, the runny mascara; she was Macavity's gangster girlfriend and an accessory to all the things that make him a known bad presence at the start of the story, but her feelings were genuine; all she's ever wanted is to be loved and admired when she was glamorous and part of that glamor came from being with him. The other cats keep the kittens away from her because of her association with him in the past, and they don't believe she's really changed because she's living the end of a Break the Haughty series of events.

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