The Great Pet Heist

Oscar, a mynah bird, functions as the group’s intellectual leader and planner whose personality drives much of the plot. His primary trait is a form of intellectual hubris derived almost exclusively from watching television. He positions himself as an expert on human affairs and cites “[t]elevision sources” with unwavering confidence, such as the game show The Price Is Right. This reliance on media makes him both the heist’s mastermind and a source of comic unreliability; he confidently orders the others to “[c]heck [Mrs. Food’s] vitals” but has no practical knowledge of what vitals are or where they are located (3). Oscar’s role as the planner, who meticulously maps out the heist based on tropes from crime shows, is a direct reflection of the heist genre, and his television-based knowledge reveals the pets’ flawed but essential window into the human world they must navigate.

Beneath his bossy and know-it-all exterior, Oscar is motivated by a deep-seated anxiety about the group’s survival. He is the first to grasp the severity of their economic predicament after Mrs. Food’s fall, calculating the cost of dog food and dramatically declaring them “doomed.” This fear fuels his obsessive need for a plan against their powerlessness. He assumes a paternalistic role, attempting to impose order on his less-focused companions to protect the found family he clearly values. His shrill and shrieky pronouncements are often manifestations of his underlying panic, revealing a vulnerability that makes his character more complex.

Despite his rigidity, Oscar is one of the most practical characters. While he is attached to his own plans, which he considers elegant and subtle, his ultimate goal is the group’s security or, as he puts it, becoming “independently wealthy.” When Butterbean and Polo’s chaotic “Plan B” succeeds where his initial mission failed, he acknowledges its effectiveness. His focus remains fixed on the outcome rather than the process, allowing the group to adapt and overcome unforeseen obstacles. As a result, his strategic mind and unwavering commitment to saving his family make him a valuable leader.

Walt, an Oriental shorthair cat, is a round character who puts the group’s plans into action, thus acting as a foil to Oscar’s thoughtful, often ponderous, planning. Her defining characteristic is a preference for action over deliberation. When Mrs. Food is unconscious, Walt dismisses Oscar’s warnings and pushes the button on the “secret device,” an impulse that sets the entire rescue-and-heist plot in motion. This decisive, and sometimes reckless, nature appears frequently throughout the novel. She is perpetually ready to “go for the eyes” (11), a threat that she levels against any perceived enemy. While Oscar plans, Walt acts; she is the one who opens the vent behind the sofa and often explores the building in secret, proving herself to be an essential facilitator of their criminal activities.

A key aspect of Walt’s character is her secretive nature and the hidden knowledge she possesses. She subverts the expectations of her companions by revealing deep insights into Mrs. Food’s life and the building’s infrastructure. She shatters Oscar’s hopes of an inheritance by casually stating that she has already been through Mrs. Food’s papers and knows that they are not in the will. Furthermore, her secret association with Chad the octopus provides the group with ally for their mission. These revelations align with the theme of Deception and the Unreliability of Appearances, as the quiet cat is revealed to have computer skills, knowledge of financial documents, and a hidden network of contacts. She keeps her secrets close, deploying her knowledge and skills only when absolutely necessary, which makes her a powerful and unpredictable asset to the team.

Though she projects a cynical and detached demeanor, often making sarcastic remarks at Butterbean’s expense, Walt’s actions betray a fierce loyalty to her found family. Beneath her tough exterior is a genuine concern for their well-being. It is Walt who first proposes a practical solution to their food problem by suggesting that they use Mrs. Food’s credit card to order supplies online. When Butterbean mourns for Mrs. Food, Walt quietly admits, “Me too,” a rare glimpse into her emotions. Her loyalty is not expressed through words but through her unwavering participation and her readiness to protect the group through decisive, physical action.

Madison is the story’s deuteragonist, a dynamic and round character whose secret struggles parallel those of the pets she is hired to care for. Her most prominent trait is a secretive and forced independence. It becomes clear that the aunt she is supposed to be living with is not present, a fact that she carefully conceals from adults like Bob the maintenance man. Her assertion that “[she] can take care of [her]self” is both a statement of pride and a reflection of her lonely predicament (22). Her situation is a powerful illustration of the novel’s theme of Deception and the Unreliability of Appearances. By living alone and forging her aunt’s signature, Madison engages in her own form of deception to survive, mirroring the pets’ efforts to function without their guardian. 

Madison’s character undergoes significant development through her evolving relationship with the animals. Initially, she sees them merely as a job and is bewildered by their “weird” and “chatty” behavior. However, as the story progresses, her interactions with them soften, and a genuine bond begins to form. She expresses sincere worry for Butterbean during the chaotic elevator incident and later promises the animals, “I’ll be back. No matter what” (153). Her growing empathy and commitment peak in the novel’s resolution, where she and Mrs. Food form a new household with the pets. Her journey from isolated caretaker to an integral member of a new, unconventional family is central to the theme of The Importance of Found Family Amid Hardship, proving that it is possible to overcome obstacles with teamwork and familial bonds.

Ultimately, Madison becomes an unwitting participant in the central conflict, connecting the human and animal worlds. The Coin Man mistakenly targets her after Polo loses the sparkly button from Madison’s sweater at the scene of the heist. This false accusation places Madison in grave danger and transforms the pets’ mission from a simple theft into a desperate rescue operation. Her peril forces the animals to confront the moral implications of their actions and solidifies their bond as a family unit that is willing to risk everything to protect one of its own.

Marco and Polo, a pair of rats, provide both comic relief and specialized skills for the heist. As characters, they are flat and static, characterized by their playful energy and unwavering enthusiasm. Their introduction, in which they treat the moving aquarium like an amusement-park ride, immediately establishes them as carefree. Despite the other animals’ initial prejudice, particularly Butterbean’s horror at learning that there are rats in the apartment, Marco and Polo quickly prove their worth. They possess surprising skills, such as the ability to escape their cage at will, which subverts expectations and reinforces their role as resourceful and clever members of the team.

Operationally, they are the designated “inside rats,” tasked with reconnaissance missions that the larger animals cannot perform. Polo’s small size allows her to hide on Butterbean’s underside, and it allows them both to navigate the building’s vent system. This role is crucial to the plot’s progression, as their surveillance is what ultimately confirms the location of the Coin Man’s treasure. Polo’s teamwork with Butterbean during “Plan B,” a frantic, floor-by-floor search of the building via the elevator, highlights her adaptability and courage, while Marco’s love of Polo can be seen when he turns Polo’s button into a necklace that she can take with her, when he admires her on the television, and when he becomes distraught after the Coin Man kicks her, fearing that she’s dead. The rats’ resourcefulness and willingness to venture into dangerous territory exemplify the theme of Agency and Ingenuity in the Face of Powerlessness, proving that even the smallest members of the group can make the largest contributions.

The Coin Man is the story’s primary antagonist; he is a flat and static character whose purpose is to provide a clear and present danger to the protagonists. He is defined not by a complex personality but by an aura of cold intimidation. His introduction to the story is indirect; he is known only through the gold Krugerrand coin he drops, a symbol of the wealth and criminality that the pets are about to encounter. When he is physically introduced, he is described as a “tall man with icy blue eyes” who speaks in a stony, intimidating voice (77). His interactions are minimal but effective in establishing him as a threat. He unnerves Madison in the elevator with pointed questions and a chilling demeanor, making it clear that he is dangerous. Numerous characters describe him as “creepy,” and Wallace, the vent rat, warns Marco and Polo to stay away from him and his apartment. Later, the Coin Man kidnaps and threatens Madison, believing that she stole the coins from him. The Coin Man’s presence therefore reinforces the theme of Deception and the Unreliability of Appearances, serving as a reminder that a sinister reality can exist behind a seemingly normal exterior.

Chad the octopus functions as a specialist; he is a flat and static character recruited for his unique and essential skills. He is a living embodiment of the theme of Deception and the Unreliability of Appearances. Initially known only as the unassuming pet of a resident on the eighth floor, he is revealed to be a master of infiltration. His physical abilities are perfectly suited for espionage and theft; he can leave his tank, navigate through plumbing, manipulate locks, and camouflage himself by changing his skin color. Chad’s personality is pragmatic and transactional. He is initially uninterested in helping the group, asking, “[W]hat’s in it for me?” (132), and only agrees to participate after being promised a supply of sardines. His expertise proves indispensable during the heist, as he is able to infiltrate the Coin Man’s apartment and retrieve the bag of coins, demonstrating how unconventional talents are a source of great power.