Editor’s disclosure: I am a cat person (crud, I just lost some readers). So my thoughts here are probably tainted by my little snoopy, poopy, woopy, wittle, kitty… er, sorry.

As the now infamous calico cat was running across the outfield at Wrigley on Tuesday night, most Cubs fans were groaning. I was, too.

But as most were groaning with thoughts of the black cat circling Ron Santo (or groaning with the knowledge that everyone was going to bring that up), I was groaning with the thought that the poor cat has no idea where it is, or how likely unpleasant the end of it’s run would be.

After scurrying across the outfield in the fourth inning, the white, orange and black calico mix was finally captured by a Wrigley Field security guard who was stationed at the left-field bullpen. The security guard picked the cat up by the tail and handed it over to a towel-wielding security worker in the stands, inciting boos from the crowd.

The kitty left, but not before leaving considerable carnage in its wake. Multiple employees were bitten by the cat and needed treatment at Wrigley.

“We’re assuming they’re fine,” said Chase. “Once we get results back about how that cat is, that’ll give us a little bit more information.” CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.

Considerable carnage? Am I the only one who saw that the security guard was wearing a THICK jacket and THICK gloves? Maybe his wrists took a swipe or two, but as someone with a rescued cat as a pet – a cat that has torn into my hands on many occasions with the reckless abandon of a stray at Wrigley – I promise, it’s not that big of a deal. It is no excuse to toss the animal around like a cornhole bag.

The only break I will cut the security guard is the tail grabbing thing. Although it is a HORRIBLE thing to do to a cat, not everyone knows it. You see other animals hang by their tails all the time, and so someone with little cat experience might not know that you absolutely cannot, cannot, cannot pick up a cat by the tail.

The cat was promptly transported to “a local veterinarian” where it will be examined to make sure it’s disease-free, said Chase. The veterinarian asked the Cubs organization to maintain its privacy.

Hopefully the guards and the cat are all fine.

My last thought: although everyone apparently knows this was a local stray (an incredibly well-fed stray, it seems), and “knows” that the cat just came into the park through the Sheffield entrance, up into the bleachers, and then down onto the field, I have a very hard time believing it did so on its own.

Stray cats are not pigeons. They don’t just happen to wander up where thousands of people are jumping up and down screaming. Thus, my assumption is that someone brought that cat into the ballpark with the express purpose of seeing it run loose on the field. Even if I get past my concern of how the cat was forced (thrown) down from the bleachers to the field, the fact that someone would treat a cat like it was some kind of novelty toy absolutely disgusts me.

The thought that someone decided to take this “thing” into the park, and turn it lose without any regard for what might happen makes me absolutely sick. But I’m sure I’m just being a crazy cat person.

After all, it’s just a cat. And more than that, it’s just a stray.

  • Lok

    I agree 100%. I’m glad everyone seems to be ok, and I understand the desire to keep play moving, but treat the cat with some respect. It obviously was scared to death (as it should be in the middle of 40,000+ people!). Get some towels/blankets and smother the cat, pick it up, and exit it from the field. If the crowd can’t handle an extra 10 minutes of stoppage, then they should drink less beer.

  • RKatz

    There’s a good chance some idiot brought the poor cat into the stadium and let it loose onto the field. Probably stole it from a neighbor or a friend. Has anyone claimed the cat? Strays aren’t the clean, glossy and well-fed, and if she’s spayed she does belong to someone. She (yes, it’s she; all calicos are female) would never have run into the open unless thrown there. Must be something somewhere on footage. If anyone would ever take the time to look, someone actually broke the animal cruelty laws here by bringing her into the stadium as a cruel joke.

    • MICK

      The only thing funnier than that cat-huggers comment is the picture of the ground crew guy (looks like he is getting ready to punt that cat)……. OH and we need to carry this momentum to and past the all-star break, we are slowly gainin ground back,

