Shortly before Christmas, a family moves into an apartment where Rupert the squirrel lives in the attic rafters. Just as it seems that the holiday will come and go without so much as a Christmas tree, Rupert acts as the family's guardian angel - not only saving Christmas, but changing their lives forever.

After enduring various indignities by the human population in town, including getting beaten up by the fish market owner and forced to eat hot mustard by a customer in a restaurant, Felix finally breaks when he hears the mayor give a speech vowing to drive all cats out of town.

Morgan (Frank Shannon) pays off Randy (Smith Ballew) and Barry (Stanley Fields) with a promissory note to be collected at the Blake ranch. They arrive to find Mrs. Blake (Ruth Robinson) sick and without any money, her back taxes due, her ranch hands departed, and her son in need of an operation. With Randy attracted to Janet (Cecilia Parker) and Barry hoping to help Danny (Wally Albright), the two decide to stay.