Hey, fellow Rick and Morty die-hard. If you watched all the Rick and Morty shows, laughed at the crazy space stuff, and still wonder about the scary questions… You came to the right place!
What did the talking cat do? That one little question makes fans talk and talk forever. They write on Reddit and stay up all night making guesses1.
In Season 4, Episode 4 – the name is “Claw and Hoarder: Special Ricktim’s Morty” – a cat that can talk shows up. He joins the Smith family mess, says strange things, and looks inside Rick and Jerry’s minds. Rick and Jerry see super bad scary stuff and freak out!
It is not just a silly joke. It is funny, scary, and makes you think hard, and pokes fun at people who always want every answer.
Come with me! We will look at the episode, read the craziest fan ideas, and find out why this cat still scares us and makes us wonder years later.
A Quick Dive into Rick and Morty: Why This Show Hooks Us
Rick and Morty isn’t your average cartoon. Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland made Rick and Morty. It started in 2013 on Adult Swim and got super famous fast!
By 2025, there will be seven seasons. A whole lot of people watch it – more than 2.5 million for each show! Season 4 had even more – up to 3.4 million people watched the first episodes.
The show is very funny but also dark and a little scary. Smart grandpa Rick takes nervous grandson Morty on wild trips to many different worlds full of laughs and crazy stuff.
What makes the show special? It is scary-big like space monsters, but also super funny and makes fun of everything.
Rick is a super-smart scientist who thinks everything is dumb because he has seen it all – even bad versions of himself!
Morty has big eyes and is always scared and surprised.
Jerry is Morty’s dad. He is shy, tries to be nice, but everyone laughs at him because he never understands anything.
Summer and Beth are sisters and mom. The whole family fights and acts silly, just like real families… but way funnier and weirder!
Fans love it for the Easter eggs. Secret doors, funny blue guys called Mr Meeseeks, and little jokes about old sci-fi movies make us watch them again and again.
But the biggest fun comes from things we still don’t understand—like the talking cat! That show came out on December 8, 2019. Right away, the internet went crazy! On Reddit, people wrote three times more than usual. Some cat posts got more than 500 comments!
We love guessing about hidden secrets. It’s the much fun as guessing where the green portal gun came from or why everyone wanted that old Szechuan sauce. Mysteries make us keep talking and watching!
Episode Recap: Claw and Hoarder: Special Ricktim’s Morty
Let’s set the stage. Season 4 starts with Rick and Morty trying to kill a dragon and steal its gold. But things go wrong! They get a magic sword that causes trouble and a lazy dragon buddy named Story Lord.
Morty makes friends with the dragon and really likes him. This makes Rick grumpy because Rick thinks feelings are dumb. It is sweet and super funny at the same time! Meanwhile, back home, Jerry’s day takes a purr-fectly weird turn.
Enter the Rick and Morty talking cat. This isn’t some lab experiment gone furry. One day, the cat walks up to Jerry in the park. He says, “Hi, I’m just a talking cat.”
Jerry feels sad and lonely. The cat listens to him and says, “Come on, Jerry, have some fun!”
They become buddies fast. They play games at the arcade, eat yummy junk food, and even drive around in a car laughing. It’s wholesome at first, a rare win for Jerry.
But Rick smells trouble. He portals in, zaps the cat into an energy cage, and hooks it up to a memory scanner. Why? The cat dodges questions about its speech. “Outer space,” it quips vaguely. As the device whirs, audio leaks out: thumping, screams, baby cries, metallic clangs, distant gunfire. Jerry peeks, vomits instantly. Rick’s face twists in disgust—he pulls a gun to his temple, bellows “Go away!” at the cat, then relents. The feline, unfazed, shrugs: “You guys are overthinking this. Just have fun.” It hitches a ride to Florida, meets the dragon in a post-credits stinger, and whispers a secret that makes the dragon gag.
That scan? It’s the hook. No visuals for us, just reactions and sound bites. The part where Rick and Jerry look inside the cat’s mind is super short—less than two minutes. But fans wrote thousands and thousands of words about it!
When the show came on TV, 1.6 million people watched it right away. By the end of the week, even more people watched it on their phones and computers—twice as many! Everyone really, really loved the mystery cat!
Breaking Down the Talking Cat Scene: What We Know
Picture this: Rick’s gadget hums, projecting holographic brain waves. The cat lounges smugly, tail flicking. Jerry, curious, leans in. Cut to horror—his guts revolt, splattering the floor. Rick, the unflappable nihilist, cracks. His hand shakes on the trigger; his eyes are hollow. The sounds? Eerie mix of industrial horror and primal fear. Thuds like footsteps in a factory. Wails that could be victims or newborns. Explosions? Or heartbeats?
We get clues from the cat itself. It claims Florida roots, loves “stupid old people,” and bonds with the dragon over “disgusting” shared pasts. Jerry mutters, “He was in my house… with pictures of my parents.” Creepy, right? Ties to Jerry’s mundane life invade the weird.
No on-screen reveal. Creators Dan Harmon and team designed it that way. In a 2019 Collider interview, they called it a “B-plot anomaly”—a side story mocking prestige TV’s need for closure, like Game of Thrones’ rushed end. Harmon joked it’s the “voice in the writers’ room” telling fans: “Don’t overanalyse. Enjoy the ride.” This meta commentary on TV shows a layer? Gold for us theory lovers.
Stats back the buzz: The episode earned a 9.1/10 on IMDb from 4,000+ votes, with the cat scene cited in 70% of reviews. On Twitter (now X), #TalkingCat trended for 48 hours, amassing 150,000 mentions. It’s not just funny; it’s unsettling, blending adult animation mysteries with real emotional stakes.
What Did the Cat Do in Rick and Morty? The Memory Scan’s Lasting Chill
Zoom in on that pivotal question: What did the cat do in Rick and Morty? The scan’s ambiguity is genius. Rick, who’s toppled governments and outsmarted gods, nearly offends himself. Jerry, the family punching bag, fixates on parental photos. Whatever flashed—likely atrocities—shatters their worlds.
From audio alone, fans piece together nightmares. Screams suggest torture or mass violence. Baby cries? Infanticide or forced births. Thumps and clangs? Machinery of death, like a slaughterhouse or war factory. Gunfire echoes battles lost. It’s cosmic horror in animation at its finest: the unseen is scarier than shown.
Jerry’s line hints at invasion— the cat lurking in his childhood home, eyeing family relics. Rick’s reaction screams existential dread; his genius feels pointless against true evil. The cat’s plea? “Don’t look too deep.” It’s a meta-nod to us, the audience, urging us to laugh off the dark.
This scene shines because it humanises the duo. Rick’s vulnerability? Rare. Jerry’s horror? Relatable. In a show full of cartoon Easter eggs, this one’s a black hole—sucking in speculation without escape.
Wild Rides Through the Cat’s Dark Past
Ah, the meat of it. Rick and Morty fan theories thrive on this stuff. We’ve scoured Reddit, TikTok, and forums for the best. No spoilers: They’re grim, absurd, and endlessly debatable. Here’s a roundup, grouped for easy digging. Remember, these are fan-fueled—pure fan speculation gold.
Meta-Reality Bombshells: Breaking the Fourth Wall
Fans love theories that flip the script on the show’s fiction.
- The Cat from Our World: Top Reddit theory—137 upvotes, 196 comments—posits the cat’s a “real” Earth pet yanked into the cartoon verse. Scan shows our chaotic reality: wars, pollution, human cruelty. Rick realises he’s ink and pixels; Jerry sees his “life” as scripted drivel. Evidence? Cat’s “outer space” quip (our dimension) and Florida nod (Harmon’s vibe). Quote from u/SophiaGnosisSynesis: “Their reality was a cartoon… why the cat said just have fun, don’t look into it.” Grim twist: Rick’s suicide tease stems from fake nihilism.
- Harmon’s Projection: Dan Harmon’s cat invades as a writer’s guilt. Memories? Harmon’s real-life scandals—abuse allegations, dark sketches. Fans link screams to his “Harmontown” rants. Absurd angle: Cat embodies the creator’s self-loathing, urging “have fun” to mask pain. Popular on r/FanTheories, with 50+ replies.
- Bill Cipher Crossover: Gravity Falls fans theorise the cat’s Bill in feline form post-Weirdmageddon. Scan replays demonic orgies, species genocides. Rick spares it, seeing his own monster mirror. Upvotes: 9, but chains explode with “Bill’s strong enough to not even attempt to kill.”
Personal Horrors: Tied to Jerry and Rick
These hit home, exploiting family ties.
- Bestiality in the Smith House: Dark but viral—cat born from human-feline tryst in Jerry’s childhood bedroom. Thumps? Mating sounds. Cries? Birth trauma. Jerry’s photo freakout seals it. From Facebook groups: “He was some kind of pet-a-phile towards old people… in my house with parents’ pics.” Absurd? Yes. Fits the dark humor in Rick and Morty.
- Elderly Exploitation Ring: Cat preys on seniors, trading sex for secrets—ties to “stupid old people” line. The scan shows trades involving kids or abuse. TikTok videos rack up 1M views: “The cat is a slut for old people… sex trades with children.”
- Mind-Fuck Byproduct: Cat’s a lab spawn from “mind-fing“—psychological torture experiments. Photos? Test subjects were Jerry’s folks. Reddit list: “Cat history has to do with photos… total mind f.”
Cosmic and Lovecraftian Nightmares
Lean into the horror roots.
- Event Horizon Hellscape: Cat from a demonic dimension—like the film’s gore-orgy hell. Screams? Eternal torment. Dragon bond? Fellow escapees. u/mattyice417: “Serious Event Horizon vibes… from the literal hell dimension.”
- Lovecraft’s Cats of Ulthar: Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft—cats as vengeful gods. Scan: Feline uprising, devouring worlds. r/FanTheories post: “Mouthpiece for writers’ disdain at analytical fans.”
- God in Furs: Cat’s the universe’s creator, memories of big bangs gone wrong—babies as doomed souls. “Only a real god can intimidate Rick.”
Absurd and Satirical Takes
Lighten the grim with laughs.
- Ted Bundy Reincarnate: Soul of the serial killer, drawn to Florida for old crimes. Scan: Gruesome sprees. u/u/something: “Reincarnated soul of Ted Bundy… mingling with retirees.”
- Pure Disgust Incarnate: Cat embodies revulsion—lonely, vacationing. Scan shows personal worsts: Your taboo fantasy. “If you were pure disgust… no one would want to be around you.”
- Cartoon Awakening: Cat realises it’s drawn, scan exposes animation horrors—pencilled atrocities. Ties to Roiland’s sketches. r/rickandmorty: “Harsh reality… he’s a cartoon.”
- Love, Death & Robots Cameo: From that anthology’s cat episode—warped into R&M verse. “Somehow came from a Rick and Morty dimension.”
- Hitler-Level Tyrant: Chris Parnell’s guess—cat as dictator, millions dead. “Eviscerating others… overseeing death.”
- Sexual Atrocities: Parnell’s other wild: “Horrible sexual acts.” Fans expand to orgies with eldritch beings.
- Factory of Souls: Thumps as an assembly line—souls forged in pain. Baby cries? Fresh batches.
- Portal Gun Backlash: Cat’s a victim of Rick’s travels—memories of dimensions erased.
- Dragon’s Twin Evil: Post-credits secret? Matching horrors, like mutual massacres.
- Fandom Satire: No real past—joke on us overthinkers. Harmon: “Imagination’s always worse.”
- Zombie Corpse Talker: Cat reanimates the dead for chats—sounds “alive” but grotesque.
- Szechuan Sauce Parallel: Another unsolved hype—cat’s the new meme monster.
These talking cat theory gems show fan creativity. Reddit threads like this one on r/FanTheories rack up 100k views yearly. TikTok? Millions on “what did they see in the cat.” It’s fan-theory culture at peak—grim one day, absurd the next.
Creator Insights: The Intent Behind the Claws
Dan Harmon and team dropped hints galore. In a 2020 Digital Spy chat, voice actor Chris Parnell (Jerry) mused on the return: “You never can tell… They like to bring things back.” Matthew Broderick voiced the cat, Oscar winner, adding gravitas to fluff.
Harmon’s take? Pure meta. Per Screen Rant, it’s “no mystery at all”—a jab at fandom’s dissection itch. The cat’s the writers’ whisper: “Stop theorising; laugh.” Echoes in Collider breakdowns: B-plot to troll prestige drama.
Roiland (pre-2023 exit) loved the absurdity, tied to his Harmontown cat bits. Post-2020, Scott Marder stepped up, keeping the edge. No Season 7 cat yet (as of Dec 2025), but teases linger. Why? Keeps us hooked, animated series hidden plots fuel longevity.
Quote from Harmon (via Game Rant): “The cat’s a voice saying, ‘Have fun, don’t overthink.’ It’s a commentary on you, the fan.” Spot on for our crowd.
Why the Ambiguity Hooks: Cosmic Horror Meets Satire
This isn’t lazy writing; it’s deliberate dread. Cosmic horror in animation thrives on voids. Lovecraft knew the unknown devours sanity. Here, the scan’s black box mirrors that: Our brains fill horrors worse than any reveal.
Satire? Nails meta-commentary in TV shows. In an era of spoiler-free teases (think Lost’s islands), Rick and Morty flips it, gives reactions, denies closure. Fans eat it up; a 2023 survey by Fandom.com showed 68% of R&M viewers prefer ambiguous endings for replay value.
For viewers comfortable with unsettling horror, it’s cathartic. Rick’s breakdown? Reassures even geniuses crack. Jerry’s? Validates everyday fears. It’s therapy in toons, dark, but healing.
Compared to other unsolved Rick and Morty moments: Evil Morty’s escape, the Citadel’s fall. All spark theories, building community. Stats: r/rickandmorty grew 40% post-Season 4, cat posts driving 15%.
Tips for theorising:
- Rewatch with Sound On: Audio cues evolve—new screams each view?
- Cross-Show Hunt: Spot cat nods in Harmon’s Community?
- Join the Debate: Post your take on Reddit; top theories get 1k+ upvotes2.
The Cat in Broader Context: Other Rick and Morty Enigmas
Rick and Morty unexplained scenes abound. Remember the interdimensional cable? Absurd ads hiding lore. Or Pickle Rick’s therapy rage, surface silly, depths profound.
The cat echoes animated series hidden plots like South Park’s meta episodes or BoJack’s depressions. But R&M’s edge? Blends with sci-fi. Rick Sanchez’s arc—Rick Sanchez and Jerry dynamics, peaks here: Father-son disdain meets reluctant respect.
Season stats: Episode 4’s 1.3 household rating beat competitors like Family Guy by 20%. Why? That balance, dark humour with heart.
Fan polls (Express.co.uk): 55% want the cat returned; 30% say leave it buried. Me? Bring it back for more chaos.
Where the Theories Purr
You’re not alone. Internet users active in fan-communities flock to Reddit’s r/FanTheories and r/rickandmorty—10k+ cat posts since 2019. Threads like this deep dive showcase speculation: “I realise the whole point… but I have a theory.”
TikTok’s algorithm loves it—#RickAndMortyCat has 500M views, blending theories with edits. X (Twitter) bursts with “What is the talking cat hiding in Rick and Morty?” Debates turn absurd: “The cat is Dan Harmon’s projection.”
Pro Tip: Start a thread. Share your best fan theories about the Rick and Morty talking cat, watch engagement soar.
Could the Talking Cat Return? Hints and Hopes
Parnell’s tease: “Lucky to do more episodes… The interdimensional cable came back.” Broderick’s charm? Irresistible. In this Digital Spy piece, he hints at “disgusting” dragon secrets expanding.
Season 7 (2023) nodded with animal gags, but no cat. 2025 rumours? A spin-off tease at SDCC whispered “feline familiar.” Fingers crossed, Rick and Morty Season 4 cat memory scan mystery deserves closure… or not.
FAQs
What did the cat do that was so bad?
We never see it! Rick and Jerry look inside the cat’s brain and hear scary sounds. They get super shocked and sad, so it must have been something really dark and awful.
Why did the show make the cat a big mystery?
The people who make the show (like Dan Harmon) wanted to laugh at fans who try to explain EVERY little thing. They said, “Just have fun and don’t think too hard!”
What is the coolest fan guess about the cat?
Lots of fans say the cat can see that Rick and Morty are only cartoon characters! It knows they are not real, and that truth is too scary for Rick and Jerry.
Why were Rick and Jerry so scared of the cat?
When they looked in the cat’s mind, they saw their own biggest fears: Rick saw he can’t really control everything, and Jerry saw his happy family might not be perfect. It hurt their hearts.
What crazy ideas do fans have about the cat?
Some say the cat did super bad crimes, some say it talked to gods, and some say it did gross grown-up stuff. Reddit has thousands of funny and wild guesses!
What is the real secret meaning of the talking cat?
The cat is like a mirror for fans. It says: “Stop looking for big secrets all the time—just laugh at the silly show!”
Will we ever find out what the cat really did?
Probably not! The show wants to keep it a mystery forever. That’s the joke—sometimes things are scary just because we don’t know!
Conclusion
So, what did the cat do in Rick and Morty? This cat opened a scary door to super dark secrets! It was funny like Rick and Morty, but also made you go “YIKES!”
From the crazy Season 4 show to all the fan guessing games, the talking cat is the perfect Rick and Morty mix: laugh hard, get scared, and keep guessing forever! It’s a testament to why we love R&M, endless layers for long-term fans, comfy with the grim and goofy3.
References
- Fans guess what the cat did – Lots of scary and crazy ideas about the cat’s mind ↩︎
- Why the cat has no answer – A story that says the mystery is the joke and it’s super smart ↩︎
- Jerry’s actor talks about the cat – The man who plays Jerry says funny stuff about the cat coming back ↩︎
