Football season is upon us; new players, new spirit, new locker room cat. Yes, you heard that right! At Bowling Green State University, there is a new furry friend named Pudge the Cat.
Pudge is a 3-year-old shorthair Persian cat that is supporting more than just the player with the injury. Kaleb McGary recently experienced a knee injury, which made the team a bit blue, but when player George Carlson brought in his furry friend, this little buddy boosted everybody’s spirits. He found a love of cats because of his family, who owned many cats before Pudge. He adopted him from a breeder who brought Pudge in a bike basket, swaddled in a blanket like a little baby.
He became famous after one of the loving players, Finn Hogan, posted about the cat to his 193,000 TikTok. Obviously, the internet ate it up, and Pudge went so viral that he was brought on Good Morning America, CNN, The Washington Post and more.. He often walks around campus with Carlson, paparazzi asking for pictures as he passes. Carlson was so happy that his love for cat videos on the web could be of his own kitty.
Though some people have worried about the cat’s health, due to his flat nose and issues that come genetically with the cat’s breed, Pudge has a veterinarian with him at all of the games as a precaution.
Now, what was just some fun little cat visit for the team has now turned into a new mas-cat for the whole school! Pudge is now a part of not only the team’s family, but also our hearts.
