This film was nominated for Best Animated Short in 1932. While it didn't win, it is one of the few Mickey Mouse cartoons so honored, as the Academy tended to pick more artsy fare such as Disney's Silly Symphonies for the award. It's a shame, really, as Mickey's cartoons were always good and always important to the genre.
In this sadistic little cartoon, some old lady leaves a basket on the doorstep as Mickey, Minnie and Pluto are inside getting ready for Christmas. When they find the basket, out jump about 30 kittens and they turn out to be totally awful--destroying the home and making nuisances of themselves. Apparently, Mickey and Minnie are gross enablers and do nothing to stop them from literally destroying EVERYTHING and instead give the horrible cats a merry Christmas. It's all very cute and sadistic--lots of fun but not exactly deep or memorable.
Very good black and white animation and songs, this one is fun but far from Mickey's best. I think the kittens were the reason this was singled out by the Academy--especially since LEND A PAW (featuring Pluto and Mickey) did win the award in 1942 and it was also about an orphan kitten rescued by Pluto.