Hallmark Channel’s ‘Kitten Summer Games’: Meet the Cat-letes
August 5 marks the opening of the Olympics in Rio, and the premiere of the Kitten Summer Games.
Hallmark Channel, “the official home of kitten sports,” has more than 90 cat-letes competing in various events: kitten gymnastics with balance beam, uneven bars, rings and floor exercises, de-CAT-hlon with track and field, pole vault and high jump, as well as volleyball, tennis, and wrestling. We have your exclusive first look at the “Road to Kitten Summer Games” video profiling some of the tennis hopefuls. A few early favorites:
(Photos: Marc Lemoine/Crown Media)
Felina Williams. The network says: “Not only does the mega-talented Felina never double fault; she doesn’t believe anything is ever her fault. Her drop shot regularly ruffles the fur of opponents, particularly when it finds Williams dropping off of a counter onto their head. In her spare time, she likes to collect and attack shoelaces.”
John MacNMeow. The network says, “More than perhaps any other animal at these Kitten Summer Games, MacNMeow tends to get hot under the collar and sometimes tosses a hissy-fit on the court. His Paw says John has been this way as far back as he can remember, which is about 10 minutes ago. He’s very much his own cat.”
Pawdre Ag-Hissy. The network says, “Ag-Hissy is known for having the best swerve on the kitten tennis circuit as well as a killer backpaw and forepaw. Pawdre loves to rally, though he sometimes will spontaneously stop in the middle to assault the ball. He’s well respected for his belief that actions speak louder than meows.”
Mary Cat-Rillo (pictured, left). “When she plays, which is constantly, it’s always advantage Cat-Rillo. However, Mary has developed an unfortunate habit of pouncing on and gnawing on the net, generating penalties and making it difficult to finish the match. She appreciates being mistaken for just 9 weeks when she’s actually 11.”
Kitten Summer Games, hosted by Beth Stern with announcers Mary Carillo and David Frei, airs Aug. 5 at 8 p.m. on Hallmark.
All kittens and cats who participated in Kitten Summer Games have since been adopted through a partnership with North Shore Animal League America.
