Does the Cat Die in Christmas Vacation?

By Michael Ferguson

If you’re a fan of the holiday classic ‘Christmas Vacation,’ you may be wondering if the cat that makes an appearance in the movie meets an unfortunate fate. Well, we have the answer for you.

Does the Cat Die in Christmas Vacation?

Yes, unfortunately, the cat does pass away in ‘Christmas Vacation.’ In one scene, Clark Griswold’s wife, Ellen, is holding the cat as they all gather around to see their newly decorated Christmas tree. Suddenly, a squirrel jumps out of the tree and scares the cat out of Ellen’s arms and through a loose section of floorboards.

The Aftermath

After this incident, there are a few mentions of the missing cat throughout the movie. Clark even goes as far as to search for it in his family’s RV while they’re stranded on their way to find a Christmas tree. However, it’s not until Eddie, played by Randy Quaid, shows up unexpectedly with a wrapped present that we find out what happened to poor Fluffy.

How it Happened

Eddie tells Clark that he found Fluffy frozen under his trailer and that he had been saving him for a surprise Christmas present. As he unwraps Fluffy’s lifeless body from a towel and places him on Clark’s living room table, Eddie says: “It was just lying there on the pavement when I got there. It must have been dead for hours.”

The Takeaway

While it may not be easy to see an animal meet its end on screen or even hear about it off-screen, it’s important to remember that movies aren’t real life. The death of Fluffy was used as comedic relief and serves as a reminder that this is just a story meant to entertain us during the holiday season.

  • If you’re sensitive to animals being hurt or killed on screen, it’s always a good idea to research a movie’s content before watching it.
  • However, if you’re still interested in watching ‘Christmas Vacation,’ but don’t want to see the cat’s death scene, you can always fast forward through that part of the movie.
  • Ultimately, the decision is up to you and what you’re comfortable with.

In Conclusion

Yes, unfortunately, the cat does die in ‘Christmas Vacation.’ However, it’s important to remember that this is just a movie and not real life.

It’s up to each individual viewer to decide whether they want to watch the movie or not. Just remember that if you do decide to watch it, there are ways to skip over the cat’s death scene if needed.