In my mind, it doesn’t get much better than watching a Kansas City Royals game with one or both of my cats, Bubba Lee Kinsey and Phoenix, curled up purring on my lap. (Of course, they freak out and run for cover every time my boyfriend and I erupt with applause after another Kendrys Morales home run or highlight-reel catch by Lorenzo Cain — but I digress.)
When it comes to baseball, my cats are avid spectators — and I’m convinced their belly floof is lucky. Other kitties, however, have had a more direct influence on the game, doing everything from attacking the grounds crew to throwing out the first pitch. Check out these cats who left their distinctive paw prints on America’s favorite pastime.
1. Most exciting part of the game
Back in 2009, the Royals were not having a good year. They lost 97 games and finished last in the American League Central division, meaning fans of the beleaguered team spent a lot of time watching crappy baseball. It must have been a welcome diversion when a cat ran onto the field during the fifth inning of a game against the Seattle Mariners, even though the poor kitty was clearly terrified.
2. Hero cat throws out first pitch
Remember Tara the Hero Cat, who saved a little boy from being attacked by a dog? The cat’s bravery did not go unnoticed: Last summer, the tenacious tabby “threw” the first pitch at a minor-league Bakersfield Blaze game, accompanied by her humans and the little boy she saved. Tara is definitely a good sport.
3. Killer kitten
Nagging questions about how in the heck a kitten wound up on a baseball field notwithstanding, I don’t blame the cat for attacking the grounds crew dudes who chased her and grabbed her by her tail. These guys might know how to preserve the field in the event of a rain delay, but they clearly have no idea how to catch a cat. Let’s just hope their team is better at catching baseballs.
4. Cat delay
This little kitty caused a delay in the ninth inning of a minor-league Myrtle Beach Pelicans game, outrunning a player, several people wearing khaki shorts, and the team’s mascot before a member of the grounds crew wisely subdued the cat with a towel.
5. A real power hitter
Okay, so Simon’s Cat isn’t attending or invading a game in this adorable animation, but after using a baseball bat to snap his owner out of REM sleep, it’s pretty obvious this demanding kitty should be batting cleanup.
Watch more cat videos:
- 5 Important Life Lessons You Can Learn From Cat Videos
- Everything We Know About Confidence We Learned From These Siamese Cats
- This Cat Is Better at Jenga Than You Are, and Other Harsh Truths
- 5 Actionable Steps to Improve Your Bottom Line (Just Kidding! Here’s a Music Video About Kittens in Space!)
- Tips for Professional Development: Stop Working and Look at These Cats!
Learn more about your cat with Catster:
- I’m Willing to Bet That Your Cat Hates Her Litter Box — Here’s Why
- Weird Cat Facts: 8 Reasons Your Cat Likes to Lick You
- Our Best Tips for Getting Your Cat to Let You Sleep
About the author: This not-crazy-at-all cat lady loves to lint-roll her favorite dress and go out dancing. She also frequents the gym, the vegan coffee joint, and the warm patch of sunlight on the living room floor. She enjoys a good cat rescue story about kindness and decency overcoming the odds, and she’s an enthusiastic recipient of headbutts and purrs from her two cats, Bubba Lee Kinsey and Phoenix.
