Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
The Cat Theory
A writer presents his supernatural theory of cats and describes being watched and stalked. He introduces three tales as supporting evidence.
Key Events
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Writer Presents Cat Theory — A writer presents a book arguing that cats are supernatural creatures and secretly control humans.
Location: Montreal
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Feline Surveillance Claims — The writer explains that various felines have observed and stalked him since he began researching the manuscript.
Location: Montreal
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Three Tales Introduced — The writer introduces three historical stories as evidence for his beliefs about cats.
Location: Montreal
A Will Written in Blood
A disputed will creates a struggle over wealth in London. Murder is followed by brutal feline vengeance against those connected to the crime.
Key Events
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Inheritance Is Rewritten — A wealthy woman changes her will, leaving her fortune to her cats instead of her nephew.
Location: London
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Will Copy Is Stolen — A maid steals one copy of the will from the lawyer's briefcase.
Location: London
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Safe Copy Targeted — The maid attempts to destroy the original will, which is kept in a safe.
Location: London residence
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Murder Over the Will — The wealthy woman sees the attempt to destroy the will and is killed by the maid.
Location: London residence
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Cats Punish the Maid — The cats avenge the woman's death by attacking and killing the maid.
Location: London residence
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Second Avenger Attack — When the nephew arrives looking for the maid, the cats also avenge the woman's death on him.
Location: London residence
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Bodies Discovered — Police and the lawyer arrive and discover the cats feeding on the bodies.
Location: London residence
The Witchcraft Revenge
An orphan loses her cat after a jealous accusation by her cousin. She turns to a witchcraft book and transforms the cousin as punishment.
Key Events
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Orphan Arrives — An orphan comes to live with her aunt, uncle, and cousin after her parents die in a plane crash.
Location: Quebec Province
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Cat Companion Rejected — The orphan brings her only friend, but her cousin frames the cat for acts of vandalism.
Location: Quebec residence
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Cat Is Removed — The orphan's guardians believe the accusations and get rid of her cat.
Location: Quebec residence
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Witchcraft Book Consulted — The orphan uses her mother's book of witchcraft to seek revenge for the cat.
Location: Quebec residence
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Cousin Becomes Tiny — The orphan's magic makes her cousin the size of a mouse.
Location: Quebec residence
The Pendulum Murder
A staged film device becomes a real murder weapon in Hollywood. The victim's cat retaliates against the conspirators and their treatment of its kittens.
Key Events
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Actor Plots Murder — An actor replaces a fake pendulum blade with a real one to kill his actress wife.
Location: Hollywood
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Murder Enables Romance — The planned murder is intended to give the actor's young mistress an opportunity.
Location: Hollywood
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Cat Builds Iron Maiden — The dead actress's cat avenges her death by attacking the young mistress with a makeshift iron maiden.
Location: Hollywood studio
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Kittens Are Disposed Of — The actor and his mistress dispose of the cat's newborn kittens.
Location: Hollywood studio
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Actor Meets Retribution — The cat avenges the kittens and kills the actor; the crew later discovers the grisly result.
Location: Hollywood studio
The Final Feline Command
The framing narrative returns to Montreal, where cats brainwash the publisher. The research is burned and the writer meets his demise.
Key Events
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Research Is Burned — The publisher is brainwashed by the cats and burns the writer's research.
Location: Montreal
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Writer Is Destroyed — The wraparound narrative concludes with the writer's demise after the cats control the publisher.
Location: Montreal
