| Cat-Tails for Two | |
| Director: | Robert McKimson |
| Producer: | Edward Selzer |
| Story: | Tedd Pierce |
| Animator: | Herman Cohen Phil DeLara Charles McKimson Rod Scribner Keith Darling Harry Love |
| Starring: | Mel Blanc Stan Freberg[1] |
| Layout Artist: | Robert Givens |
| Background Artist: | Richard H. Thomas |
| Music: | Carl Stalling |
| Distributor: | Warner Bros. Pictures |
| Color Process: | Technicolor |
| Runtime: | 6:40 |
| Language: | English |
Cat-Tails for Two is a 1953 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon, directed by Robert McKimson and written by Tedd Pierce.[2] The short was released on August 29, 1953.[3] It was the first appearance of Speedy Gonzales, in a prototype form.[4] Because this cartoon's rendition of Speedy Gonzales looked rather coarse, they redesigned him for future cartoon releases.
The cartoon has been criticized for its stereotypical and insensitive depictions of Mexicans.[5]
George and Benny, two dim-witted cats, are searching for food on a pier when they discover a Mexican ship. Hoping for Mexican mice, they board the ship and encounter Speedy Gonzales, who declares himself "The Fastest Mouse in All Mexico."
George and Benny go through numerous attempts to capture Speedy, who always outwits them. Speedy comes to think of them as private entertainment, at one point declaring "I like those fellows. All the time having fon (fun)!" The cats' failures include setting a crate of anvils as a trap, trying to use dynamite-laced cheese without a match, and using a pipe and mallet setup.
In their final attempt, the cats try to channel dynamite through a pipe into Speedy's hiding place, but Speedy bends the pipe back toward them. George's lit dynamite results in an explosion that sends both cats flying into the harbor. As they fall, George admits he has lost his appetite for Mexican food, while Speedy remarks on their silliness.