While the cat show featured many pure-breds, Puzzums stole the show with his tricks.
Silent-comedy producing mogul Mack Sennett made Puzzums the first and only feline to sign a studio contract.
He signed with his paw print dipped in ink.)
Puzzums the cat and Jeanette MacDonald.Public Domain
Unlike movie dogs Lassie and Rin-Tin-Tin, Puzzums was not the focus of a franchise of any kind.
“This special moment happened and then the cat would be on his way,” says Valderrama.
Today, it can be difficult to track down much of Puzzums work.
Many of his films are lost.
When he died of a tooth infection in 1934, Puzzums was granted a lavish funeral.
The newspapers covered his death like the passing of any other great star.
“Cats have a mind of their own; they’re not trainable like dogs,” adds Valderamma.
“Puzzums was a once-in-a-lifetime situation.”
Maybe even once in nine lifetimes.
