For starters, let me just call dibs on Mr. Slippers before he becomes a superstar. A new face at this year's annual Kitten Bowl on Hallmark this Sunday, Slippers was the last draft pick, an underdog among the other cat-letes playing their own version of the Super Bowl in a bid for adoption. A rookie, an unknown. But I'm predicting he'll become a star. The annual event isn't just adorable either — it's for a good cause, and you can't beat that. But how can you adopt a Kitten Bowl kitten? There are actually a few different ways to go about it.
The Kitten Bowl will be broadcast on the Hallmark Channel Sunday at 12 p.m. ET, and the press release calls it — wait for it — "Su-purr Bowl Sunday." The third annual Kitten Bowl, hosted by perky pet lover Beth Stern (wife to the less-than-perky Howard), has become a beloved tradition for the non-football loving duo. (The Hallmark Channel's website is even a hotbed of cat puns and serious-sounding commentators alike for weeks leading up to the big day, just to show you how into this they are.)
There is a real blend of tongue-in-cheek humor surrounding the Kitten Bowl — with producers naming the kittens punny names such as Ben Rothles-purrger — and wholesome earnest do-goodery that makes the spectacle remarkably appealing.
The North Shore Animal League America, the world's largest no-kill animal shelter in Port Washington, New York supplied most of the more than 100 kittens and cats for the event this year, in the hopes of helping them find their forever homes. Stern, as their adorable spokesperson, is a serious advocate for finding these pets loving homes and has managed to develop noteworthy support, most notably from Boomer Esiason, "Feline Football League Commissioner" and a real-life NFL MVP and four-time Pro Bowl quarterback. Stern told Global News that Esiason had been unfailingly supportive of the Kitten Bowl (despite a rather shocking confession to Global News that he was really more of a dog lover).
At last year's Kitten Bowl, every single feline was placed with adoptive parents. And why not? Look at them, they're adorable!
As if the adorable factor wasn't reason enough to take home one of the little furballs for yourself, North Shore Animal League's website states that adopting a cat can actually improve your quality of life:
Owning a cat appeals to and is beneficial to people of all ages. Children learn responsibility, value for life, socialization and have higher self-esteem while adults and seniors enjoy the companionship and the feelings of self-worth and purpose that taking care of an animal instills. Pet owners smile more, laugh more and form special friendships with other animal owners and lovers.
There are Kitten Bowl Adoption Event Parties happening at shelters across the country as the run up to the Super Bowl gets underway. You can also visit North Shore Animal League America's website to find a feline friend.
Pay special attention to black cats in particular. Word on the street is they have a tougher time placing black cats with families (maybe because of their supposed dark magic link or the fact that some people consider them bad omens).
So go find yourself a furry little friend and get ready to curl up in front of the Kitten Bowl on Sunday. Just keep away from Mr. Slippers. He's all mine.
