Ep 5. Pet Cemetery

Ray Barone is excited to learn that there is a pet cemetery located near his house. He is keen to visit the location with his wife Debra and their children. Debra is initially hesitant, as she is not a fan of cemeteries but agrees to accompany Ray and the kids as she knows how giddy he is.

Upon arrival, Ray is amazed to see the burial spots of various animals, including a bird, rabbit, and even a snake. However, he is stunned when he sees the size of the tombstones and the extravagance of the final resting places. Ray finds it amusing, but Debra views many of the pet graves as unsettling.

During their visit, Debra mentions to Ray that her friend has a cat that they need to get rid of as no one in her household wants to take responsibility for the pet. Upon hearing this, Ray sees an opportunity to lay to rest his childhood cat Mittens, who he believes was never given a proper burial. Ray asks Debra if they can take in the cat and give it a respectable sendoff.

Debra is not convinced that taking in another pet would be a wise decision. Their family already consists of two children, a dog, and Frank and Marie, his parents who live across the street and are always popping in unannounced. They do not need an additional pet. Still, after thinking about it, she agrees to take the cat home.

Ray is ecstatic at the thought of giving his beloved cat Mittens a dignified burial. However, things take a turn when the Barone family witnesses their dog Rober eat Debra’s friend’s cat. Panic sets in, and the family packs the remains of the deceased feline into a shoebox and rushes over to the pet cemetery. They proceed to the burial site where the family finds out something shocking. Ray is not the only one with plans to give Mittens a final resting place in the cemetery. It turns out that Mittens has already been buried by someone else, and more surprising still is that his parents paid for the burial.

The Barone family is confused about how this is possible, and they quickly discover that it was a plot by Ray's mother, Marie, to surprise Ray on his birthday. She planned everything down to the letter to keep it a secret from her son and his family.

As the family tries to figure out how to disinter Mittens’s prematurely buried remains, Debra and Robert reminisce about old times at the cemetery. Meanwhile, Ray tries to calm his nerves and come to grips with the fact that he’s not able to give his beloved pet the final resting place he had hoped for. He believes it's his mom’s fault and tries to confront her, but Marie denies any wrongdoing.

In the end, the family decides to return the cat’s remains and let it rest with the other animals in the pet cemetery. Ray comes to terms with the fact that his mother’s intentions were good, but the execution was terrible. He realizes that his family and memories are the things that are most important, not a pet's burial site.

Season 5 episode 5 of Everybody Loves Raymond is a heartwarming comedy that raises several interesting topics. It touches on themes like family values, loyalty, and the importance of acceptance. This episode highlights the Barone family’s quirks and demonstrates the lengths they will go to make each other happy. This one is a must-watch for fans of the show.