The ball proceeds when the young white cat (or queen), Victoria, comes out on stage to dance a beautiful and elegant solo. There are different opinions as to the nature of this dance and its purpose, but regardless of that, she is soon joined by Mistoffelees. They sing "The Invitation to the Jellicle Ball" together, inviting other cats in the junkyard to come out and play and dance under the full Jellicle moon. Munkustrap, the keeper of the kittens and the storyteller of the tribe, tolls the audience and the cats what the Jellicle Ball is. Every year, the Jellicle Cats gather to celebrate and choose a cat that will be reborn into a new life--somewhat like reincarnation.

Munkustrap then proceeds with the ball by introducing Jennyanydots, the Gumbie Cat. Bombalurina, Jellylorum, and Demeter help him in singing this song. Jennyanydots is a friendly sort who loves order and precision. She teaches the mice music, crocheting and tatting. The cockroaches, in her opinion, are uncouth and vulgar. The cast dresses up in plastic bags decorated like beetles to display Jenny's 'beetle tattoo'. All in all, she is like an aunt to all of the cats. It is assumed that some cats are her offspring, but that is a very debated fact.

Jennyanydots is soon interrupted by a cat called Rum Tum Tugger, the female heartthrob. He can never make up his mind and is constantly annoying the older cats. He flirts with everyone and generally refuses to take life seriously. The majority of the females think he is adorable and simply to die for. They all go crazy and scrape around his feet for even the smallest amount of attention. Bombalurina, the red queen and female flirt, vies for his attention, but must compete with everyone else just the same. Etcetera, the screamer at the end of Tugger's song, is a very hyper kitten who loves Tugger and thinks of him as God's gift to cats.

Grizabella interrupts next. As soon as she walks onstage, the cats shun her and scratch her in hatred. Years ago, she left the tribe to explore the outside world and is now an outcast. She can never re-enter the tribe, no matter how much the female kittens try to help and comfort. Adults always pull the kittens away, leaving Grizabella alone. Demeter sings of Grizabella's hard life on the streets and her brief time as a whore. Rightfully, she should have died after everything that has happened, but somehow she still manages to go on.

Bustopher Jones makes an appearance after Grizabella leaves. Old Bustopher loves to eat. Because of this, he is a large 25-pounder and remarkably round for a cat. However, everyone seems to love and admire him just the same, especially Jennyanydots, who seems to have formed a bit of a crush on him. A loud crash brings this happy song to a close, sending the cats scurrying back into the junk piles.

However, it's all a false alarm as two calico cats appear named Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer. They sing of their life in Victoria Grove, where they frequently love to steal jewelry and money from their 'pets'. This duo loves to cause trouble, but they're a fun loving bunch and really don't mean any harm. The rest of the cats soon appear to set them straight.

Before anyone can do anything else, the mystical cats of the tribe (Mistoffelees, Coricopat, Tantomile) sense the arrival of the Jellicle Leader, Old Deuteronomy. A cat goes to help him into the junkyard while Munkustrap recalles Old Deuteronomy's noble life with the help of Rum Tum Tugger. All of the cats are happy to see their beloved leader and hug him and kiss him as soon as he appears.

Munkustrap has now prepared some entertainment for Old Deuteronomy. It is a play called "The Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles". It tells the story of how dogs (Pekes, Pollicles, and Poms) began to fight each other and how the Rumpus Cat stopped them from wrecking havoc on all of London. The play doesn't go as perfectly as Munkustrap had envisioned, but Old Deuteronomy seemed to enjoy it just the same.

A loud crash resounds throughout the junkyard and the cats are sent scurrying in different directions. Old Deuteronomy stays on stage with Munkustrap and they begin call out the Jellicles as they determine to it be safe. From here, the dancing of the Jellicle Ball starts. All sing of what a Jellicle Cat is and does, before dancing the night away. Halfway through this dance, all of the cats pair up and become very 'friendly' with each other. Victoria has another solo at this time with a tom. Depending on the production it could be anyone from Tumblebrutus (Broadway) to Plato (London). They are joined by Skimbleshanks. The meaning of this solo is a bit unclear, but soon everyone settles down.

At this time, Grizabella makes another appearance. She is shunned and ignored like last time. As they cats abandon her, only Old Deuteronomy remains on the magical tire to watch. Grizabella sings of the good old days when she was happy and how she wished to be happy again. After her haunting melody, she reaches out a paw, hoping another cat will touch her and accept her. Nobody does. Again, she slinks off into the darkness.

Intermission

The cats gather on stage to hear Old Deuteronomy sing about "The Moments of Happiness". A young kitten joins him in these sentiments. In London she is called Jemima, in Broadway she is Sillabub. The rest of the tribe joins in singing the beautiful chorus.

The next cat introduced is Gus, the threatre cat. Jellylorum sings his song. They recall his youth and how he was a wonderful actor who joined with the best actors of his day in the best plays and musicals. Then, the scene changes as he recalls a play from his youth about Growltiger and his lovely Lady Griddlebone. The actor who is Gus plays Growltiger, while Jellylorum plays Griddlebone. Growltiger was aboard a ship with his crew, played by Mistoffelees, Tugger, Munkustrap, and others, when he spies the Lady Griddlebone. They sing an operetta under the full moon, unaware that Siamese attackers (played by the rest of the cast) are creeping ever nearer. Griddlebone drops out of sight as Growltiger battles with the head Siamese, Ghengis (played by Mungojerrie). Growltiger is defeated and must walk the plank. The stage reverts to the normal junkyard and Gus is led offstage by Jellylorum.

The somber mood is broken by Skimbleshanks and his song. He is the Railway Cat who keeps everyone and everything in line at the railway station. Without Skimble, you can be sure that the conductors would have a hard time! The cats construct a giant train made of junk, but it is soon sent crashing to the ground by some mischevious kittens.

Another crash is heard, and the cats look around, fearing the worst. Demeter whisperes the name, "Macavity", the named of the feared criminal cat. The toms provide a protective circle around the queens, kittens, but Old Deuteronomy somehow slips out and Macavity takes this opportunity to capture him along with the help of some rats. They escape with the Jellicle Leader, the toms hot on their heels. This leaves the queens frightened and exposed in the junkyard. Demeter and Bombalurina begin to tell the story of Macavity, his magical powers, and the amazing crimes he has committed. It is believed that Bombalurina and Demeter had a past with him, but this is left up to interpretation.

When they finish, the toms return to comfort the queens, and a tall figure appears that looks like Old Deuteronomy. However, Demeter knows better and attacks him, throwing off the disguise and revealing Macavity. Munkustrap, Alonzo, and others fight off Macavity and he leaves, wounded, but not before destroying the lights of the junkyard. Everything is thrown into darkness. Only the Jellicle Moon and a small spotlight from the railway train are the lights in the junkyard.

Rum Tum Tugger gathers the attention of everyone, but cats are reluctant to listen due to his joshing nature. He sings of the magical cat, Mr. Mistoffelees, who restores the lights of the junkyard with his special powers. He elects a cat, Cassandra, to help him with his final trick. Placing Cassandra under a banket, he uses his magical powers to bring Old Deuteronomy and then her back safely to the junkyard. He finishes the song with a spectacular dancing feat (Note: Mistoffelees is always the best dancer in the show, so be sure to keep your eyes on him!)

As soon as everything quiets down, the young kitten Sillabub (Jemima) announces that dawn is near. It is time for Old Deuternomy to pick the cat that will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn to a different life.

Grizabella enters, hoping to be accepted once more. The cats sneer and turn their backs, refusing to look. Once more, she sings "Memory", and the cats cannot help but turn around at the mournful, repentant tune to her voice. Once Grizabella cannot go on, she collapses. Sillabub comes to the rescue and continues her song, helping Grizabella to recover the strength and hope she needed. Grizabella sings once more with renewed passion and strength, singing with such emotion that some cats begin to cry. When it is over, Grizabella, beyond hope, stagges to the exit. But before she does, she reaches out a paw with the one last hint of faith she has. The young kitten named Victoria stands up, and with Old Deuternomy's permission, touches the wounded queen's paw and accepts her. Victoria and Grizabella gaze at each other in a moment of tender emotion before everyone comes to nuzzle and accept her.

She continues down the line of felines until she reaches Old Deuteronomy, who bows. He has chosen Grizabella for the Heavyside Layer. She will ascend to the heavens and be reborn. The cats sing fondly while she departs on her long journey.

Old Deuteronomy ends the performance with the song "The Addressing of Cats", which teaches the audience how to properly greet a cat. And remember: a cat is not a dog.