Original Air Date: October 27, 1967
Starring: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy
Directed by: Joseph Pevney

Cat Out of the Bag Alert!  This review contains spoilers for this episode!

Synopsis: The Enterprise crew encounter a strange alien presence on a formerly uninhabited planet which taps into their psyche, bringing to life scenes normally found in horror films.

Featured Feline: When Captain Kirk (William Shatner), Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) first enter the spooky haunted castle which mysteriously appears before them, they are startled by a black cat screeching at them.

The cat, which is wearing a crystal, then leads them through the castle.

Suddenly the floor gives out beneath the men and they topple into a torture chamber.  The cat looks down at them.

Later they meet Korob (Theodore Marcuse) who is sitting on a throne with the cat beside him.  Occassionally he seems to carry on a conversation with the cat.

The cat leaves the room and comes back a beautiful woman named Sylvia (Antoinette Bower).

Closer to the end of the episode, Korob is frightened by Sylvia and helps the crew members escape.  Sylvia is outraged and not only changes back into a cat but a giant one!  She stalks them around the castle, usually seen as a shadow on the wall.

Eventually they run into the room in which they first fell and Sylvia manages to push the door down, crushing Korob.

At last Sylvia is held at bay when Kirk points out he has their wand instrument.

Final Mewsings: Don’t cross an aroused female alien who can turn into a cat!

Many thanks to Melissa for letting us know about this classic television cat!