History WesternAnimation / TheCatCameBack

* AndIMustScream: DowplayedTrope and PlayForLaughs. Mr. Johnson will be pestered by the cat for all eternity, but it’s a self inflicted hell. It’s only this because he just can’t seem to get used to the thing.

* DisproportionateRetribution: At first. Mr. Johnson initially wants to get rid of the cat because it knocked a baby rattle out of his hand (like that ''wouldn't'' happen when playing with a cat?). His efforts become a bit more understandable as the cat becomes more destructive - though considering how the cat didn't really do anything legitimately bad before being tossed out, [[FridgeBrilliance it's possible that it is getting some retribution of its own in its actions, resulting in an escalating cycle between the two participants]]. However, his initial reason for wanting to get rid of the cat may be justified, at least to him, in that it's implied that the baby rattle was a keepsake from Mr. Johnson's own babyhood and was therefore sentimentally valuable to him. Judging by the sound it made when it hit the floor, and his horrified reaction, it ''broke''.

[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW9f04Dctz4 You can watch it]], [[ShmuckBait and you'll keep coming back...]]

* TheThingThatWouldntLeave: The titular cat, of course.

* LightEqualsHope: Old Mister Johnson take a railway handcar into the Canadian mountains in an effort to abandon a troublesome cat. He derails at one point, and tumbles down a mine's air shaft into utter darkness. PlayedForLaughs as he lights a match to assess his situation, and sees hundreds of rats staring back at him. One rat blows out the match, just before a GoryDiscretionShot. The man survives, though thoroughly nibbled.

* MementoMacguffin: Johnson's original reason for throwing the cat out was because it broke the rattle he had since he was a child. This was made apparent by the sounds of its insides spill across the floor.

''The Cat Came Back'' is a 1988 [[AnimatedFilms Animated Short]] set to the tune of the 1893 comic song "The Cat Came Back", illustrating [[TheCatCameBack that trope]]. The short, directed by Cordell Barker for Richard Condie and the Creator/NationalFilmBoardOfCanada, features the hapless "Old Mr. Johnson" and his [[SerialEscalation escalating]] but fruitless attempts to rid himself of a cat.

* TheChewToy: Poor old Mr.Johnson ...

''The Cat Came Back'' is a 1988 [[AnimatedFilms Animated Short]] set to the tune of the 1893 comic song "The Cat Came Back", illustrating [[TheCatCameBack that trope]]. The short, directed by Cordell Barker for Richard Condie and the NationalFilmBoardOfCanada, features the hapless "Old Mr. Johnson" and his [[SerialEscalation escalating]] but fruitless attempts to rid himself of a cat.

* GhostReunionEnding: After numerous attempts to dispose of an unwanted cat, the NoNameGiven man fills his house with explosives, then sets them off, killing himself in the process. His ghost returns to laugh at the cat, which can no longer torment him ... until his dead body falls on the cat, killing it. Nine numbered feline ghosts appear, and chase the man's ghost, screaming in horror, into the sky.

* BowtiesAreCool: The kitten wears a bow tie.

''The Cat Came Back'' is a 1988 [[AnimatedFilms Animated Short]] set to the tune of the 1893 comic song "The Cat Came Back", illustrating [[TheCatCameBack that trope]]. The short, directed by Creator/CordellBarker for Richard Condie and the NationalFilmBoardOfCanada, features the hapless "Old Mr. Johnson" and his [[SerialEscalation escalating]] but fruitless attempts to rid himself of a cat.

This cartoon was nominated for an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for Best Animated Short, as well as winning over a dozen other awards.

* MatchlightDangerRevelation: In the mine. Unhelpfully blown out by the aforesaid danger. This was made apparent by the sounds of its insides spill across the floor.
* MementoMacguffin: Johnson's original reason for throwing the cat out was because it broke the rattle he had since he was a child.

'''''The Cat Came Back''''' is a 1988 [[AnimatedFilms Animated Short]] set to the tune of the 1893 comic song "The Cat Came Back", illustrating [[TheCatCameBack that trope]]. The short, directed by Creator/CordellBarker for Richard Condie and the NationalFilmBoardOfCanada, features the hapless "Old Mr. Johnson" and his [[SerialEscalation escalating]] but fruitless attempts to rid himself of a cat.

* PrecisionFStrike: Mr. Johnson comes very close to delivering one when he approaches the cow tied to the railway track and exclaims "What the ffffffffff.....?" Doubles as GettingCrapPastTheRadar because this is an NFB cartoon, after all.

* DisproportionateRetribution:
** At first. Mr. Johnson initially wants to get rid of the cat because it knocked a baby rattle out of his hand (like that ''wouldn't'' happen when playing with a cat?). His efforts become a bit more understandable as the cat becomes more destructive - though considering how the cat didn't really do anything legitimately bad before being tossed out, [[FridgeBrilliance it's possible that it is getting some retribution of its own in its actions, resulting in an escalating cycle between the two participants]].
** His initial reason for wanting to get rid of the cat may be justified, at least to him; it's implied that the baby rattle was a keepsake from Mr. Johnson's own babyhood and was therefore sentimentally valuable to him. Judging by the sound it made when it hit the floor, and his horrified reaction, it ''broke''.

* CurseCutShort: When Mr. Johnson sees the cow (''see above''), he blurts out, "What the fff----?"

* DerangedAnimation: Especially during the scenes where Mr. Johnson starts to go insane when he tried to get rid of the Cat in many hilarious and crazy ways.
* DisproportionateRetribution: At first. Mr. Johnson initially wants to get rid of the cat because it knocked a baby rattle out of his hand (like that ''wouldn't'' happen when playing with a cat?). His efforts become a bit more understandable as the cat becomes more destructive - though considering how the cat didn't really do anything legitimately bad before being tossed out, [[FridgeBrilliance it's possible that it is getting some retribution of its own in its actions, resulting in an escalating cycle between the two participants]].

** Actually, the cat just bats lightly at Johnson's hand holding the rattle, causing him to drop it. It was at least as much Johnson's fault as it was the cat's.

->''But {{the cat came back}}, the very next day...''

* RapidFireComedy