Description:  The Houndcats is a 1972 American animated series about a team of five animal crime-fighters—three dogs and two cats—who are sent on spy missions in 1914 America. Parodying Mission: Impossible, they receive their assignments from an unseen "Chief" via a self-destructing recording. The team consists of the leader, Stutz; Ding Dog, the second-in-command; Mussel Mutt, the strongman; Putty Puss, the master of disguise; and Rhubarb, the inventor.

Premise: The show follows a team of animal spies who are tasked with battling crime and thwarting villains, similar to the spies in Mission: Impossible.

Characters: The team includes:

Stutz: A cat who serves as the cool and confident leader.

Ding Dog: Stutz's right-hand man, a Briard known for having bad timing and judgment.

Mussel Mutt: An Old English Sheepdog who is the strong and always-hungry muscle of the group.

Putty Puss: A cat who is a master of disguise, able to mold his face like silly putty.

Rhubarb: A dog and scientist who invents the team's gadgets, often from the pockets of his long coat.

Mission structure: Each episode begins with the team receiving instructions from a "Chief," which is always played on an old-fashioned device like a gramophone. The message famously ends with a warning that it will self-destruct in five seconds, which always surprises the Houndcats.