"Juane" is French for "yellow", thus Juane-Tom's name translates to "Yellow Tom", a common name for a male, yellow-orange striped cat.
Robert Goulet's movie debut.
Chuck Jones had been under an exclusive contract with Warner Bros., and worked on this film in violation of his contract. After Warner Bros. picked up the film from UPA for distribution, they discovered his work on the film and fired him, resulting in his departure for MGM.
Golden Books' children's division published a "Little Golden Books" version of "Gay Purr-ee" to coincide with the original theatrical release of the film.
Mme. Rubens-Chatte is a overweight cat. Artist Sir Peter Paul Rubens was noted for painting large women so often that the term "Rubenesque" basically means overweight. Chatte is French for cat.
When Judy Garland was approached about doing this film, it was she who reportedly suggested that her two good friends (and The Wizard of Oz collaborators) Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg provide the music and lyrics, respectively. It was to be both men's last full-length score for any medium.
When the nefarious Meowrice hatches a plot to shanghai Jaune Tom and Robespierre and sell them as ship's cats, he escorts them to the celebrated feline cabaret, the "Mewlon Rouge", under guise of friendship. During this scene, the famous French artist Toulouse-Lautrec - who painted many advertising posters for the real Moulon Rouge - is portrayed as a bearded, green-colored cat sitting at a nearby table, tossing back a drink and sketching his surroundings.