Was the Cat Harmed in Christmas Vacation?

By Michael Ferguson

As the holiday season approaches, many families gather around the television to watch classic holiday movies. One of those beloved movies is “Christmas Vacation,” starring Chevy Chase as the bumbling Clark Griswold. However, there has been a long-standing debate among viewers about the treatment of a certain feline character in the film.

In one scene, Clark’s cousin-in-law Eddie arrives at his house with a cat named Snots wrapped up as a gift for him. As Eddie unrolls the package, it becomes clear that the cat has been through a traumatic experience – its fur is matted and it appears terrified.

This has led many to question whether or not the cat was actually harmed during filming. The truth is that no harm came to the cat during shooting.

The American Humane Association (AHA), which monitors animal welfare on film sets, was present during filming and confirmed that no harm came to any animals involved in “Christmas Vacation.” The AHA even awarded the film an “Outstanding” rating for their treatment of animals.

Furthermore, according to an interview with actor Randy Quaid (who played Eddie), the “cat” seen in the movie was not even a real cat. It was actually a combination of animatronics and puppetry created by special effects artists.

While it may appear on screen that Snots was mistreated, it’s important to remember that movies are all about illusion and creating dramatic scenes for entertainment purposes. In reality, no animals were harmed during filming.

It’s also worth noting that since “Christmas Vacation,” there have been stricter guidelines put in place regarding animal welfare on film sets. The AHA now requires all productions they monitor to have an animal safety representative present at all times to ensure that no harm comes to any animals involved.

In conclusion, while it may appear on screen that Snots suffered mistreatment during “Christmas Vacation,” rest assured that no harm came to any animals during filming. This beloved holiday classic can continue to be enjoyed by families without any guilt or concern about animal welfare.