The Hypo-Chondri-Cat

The Hypo-Chondri-Cat is a 1950 Merrie Melodies short directed by Charles M. Jones.
== Title ==
The title is a play on "hypochondriac".
== Plot ==
Hubie and Bertie help themselves to a warm fire and some cheese in their new home, until they encounter Claude Cat. A chase then ensues, but Claude freezes up before he passes an open window. Fearing he might catch pneumonia, he pops pills and takes his temperature. Realizing he's a hypochondriac, both mice play up on this by suggesting Claude is turning himself all sorts of colors, including tartan, before dismissing him as a hopeless case. Claude breaks down into tears and persuades the mice to save his life. Feeling sorry for the sickly cat, the mice quickly have a change of heart and agree to try to save him with whatever they can do.
Claude ends up in an operating theatre, where the mice prepare a fake operation by slicing up some cheese. Believing them to be operating on himself, Claude passes out in "pain" and goes into a surrealistic nightmare.
Claude reawakens, not realizing he's wearing a white gown and fake wings. He sees Hubie and Bertie crying over his grave, and the pair are in "shock" when they see him as a "ghost". With the aid of an x-ray machine, he believes them and begs again for their help. They lead him to a cliff with a sign pointing to "cat Heaven," but despite him saying he can't fly, they shove him off the cliff. Claude does fly, but he doesn't realize that they tied a helium balloon to his back. "Farewell, you poor earthly creatures", says Claude to the mischievous rodents as he flies towards the moon.
== Availability ==
W UK10552 LooneyTunesVideoShowNo17The.jpg|(1984) VHS The Looney Tunes Video Show, Volume 17 (unrestored Blue Ribbon print)
Lt flff.jpg|(1986) VHS Foghorn Leghorn's Fractured Funnies (unrestored Blue Ribbon print)
Lt flff beta.jpg|(1986) Beta Foghorn Leghorn's Fractured Funnies (unrestored Blue Ribbon print)
Gfdgsdg.jpg|(1993) LaserDisc Looney Tunes Assorted Nuts (unrestored Blue Ribbon print)
ClassicCollection.jpg|(1995) VHS Classic Collection (WHSmith Exclusive Video) (unrestored Blue Ribbon print)
Lt ltc fl.jpg|(1996) VHS Foghorn Leghorn (unrestored Blue Ribbon print)
LT Golden Collection 1.jpg|(2003) DVD Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 1, Disc Three (1998 dubbed print)
Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection 1.jpg|(2003) DVD Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection: Volume 1, Disc 1 (1998 dubbed print)
Lt cas1.jpg|(2004) DVD Looney Tunes Collection All Stars Volume 1 (1998 dubbed print)
Lt cas12.jpg|(2004) DVD Looney Tunes Collection All Stars Volumes 1 & 2, Disc 1 (1998 dubbed print)
Lt 3sdt.jpg|(2010) DVD 3 Spooky DVD Treats (1998 dubbed print)
Lt mouse chronicles blu.jpg|(2012) Blu-ray Looney Tunes Mouse Chronicles, Disc 2 (original opening Color Rings restored)
L.T.M.C..jpg|(2012) DVD Looney Tunes Mouse Chronicles, Disc 2 (original opening Color Rings restored)
Best of Warner Bros. 50 Cartoon Collection- Looney Tunes.jpg|(2013) DVD Best of Warner Bros. 50 Cartoon Collection: Looney Tunes, Disc 1
LooneyTunes CenterStageV1.jpg|(2014) DVD Looney Tunes Center Stage Volume 1
Lt cs.jpg|(2015) DVD Looney Tunes Center Stage
Lt triple feature.jpg|(2016) DVD Looney Tunes Triple Feature
Lt spotlight v1-3.jpg|(2018) DVD Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection Volumes 1-3 Repack
=== Streaming ===
lt hbo max.jpg|HBO Max (2020 - 2023) (original opening Color Rings restored)
lt max.jpg|Max (2023 - ) (original opening Color Rings restored)
Lt itunes.jpg|iTunes (-) (original opening Color Rings restored)
== Production ==
* According to the storyboard included as a bonus feature on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 1 DVD set, this cartoon originally was to have had one more scene at the end, which didn't appear in the final cut; as Claude Cat floats via balloon to "Cat Heaven," Hubie and Bertie are shown inside the house, in front of the fireplace, roasting cheese clumps (shaped like marshmallows) on toothpicks. Claude is shown through the window, blissfully drifting skyward.https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xk01qu
== Censorship ==
* The part where Hubie slaps Bertie several times after Bertie objects to Hubie's claim that Claude is turning green was cut when this cartoon was shown on ABC's The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show.http://www.intanibase.com/gac/looneytunes/censored-h.aspx
== Goofs ==
* When Claude falls down on the floor to grab Hubie and Bertie's tails, He is still wearing a scarf, but in the next shot, it's missing for the rest of the short.
== Notes ==
* This is the first cartoon where Claude Cat is officially given his name, as prior to that he was unnamed in previous appearances, or in the case of his "prototype" debut appearance "The Aristo-Cat" he was named "Pussy".
*This cartoon was shown in theatres with Stage Fright during its original release.
== Gallery ==
HypoChondriCatCredits1.png
HypoChondriCatCredits2.png
Rs92c.jpg|Lobby card
1950 04 15 -MM- The Hypo Chondri Cat Storyboard reel ENG
=== TV Title Cards ===
File:Screenshot 2021-01-27 at 9.36.49 AM.png|The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show
== References ==
 
Category:Merrie Melodies Shorts
Category:Hubie and Bertie Cartoons
Category:Shorts
Category:Cartoons directed by Chuck Jones
Category:1950
Category:Claude Cat Cartoons
Category:Cartoons written by Michael Maltese
Category:Cartoons with music by Carl W. Stalling
Category:Cartoons with characters voiced by Mel Blanc
Category:Cartoons with orchestrations by Milt Franklyn
Category:Cartoons with film editing by Treg Brown
Category:Cartoons with sound effects edited by Treg Brown
Category:Cartoons produced by Eddie Selzer
Category:Cartoons with layouts by Robert Gribbroek
Category:Cartoons with backgrounds by Philip DeGuard
Category:Blue Ribbon reissues
Category:Re-released cartoons whose original titles are known to exist