Last summer I reported live from the sidelines of Kitten Bowl VI, which will be telecast this Sunday at 2 p.m. on Hallmark Channel. Kitten Bowl VI is one of Hallmark's many programs this month that supports Adoption Ever After, the company's larger mission to educate audiences on pet adoption and inspire them to make a shelter pet part of the family. On Saturday, Kitten Bowl's brand-new companion program, Cat Bowl, will make its debut at 10 p.m. These two programs with a purpose comprise the country's largest pet adoption event, led by Hallmark and its partner North Shore Animal League. Participating shelters have increased a hundredfold since the launch of Kitten Bowl in 2014, and the franchise's success can be measured by the 25K pets adopted since that time.
Hosted by animal advocate and cat lover Beth Stern, Kitten Bowl and Cat Bowl will feature feline gameplay interspersed with moving stories of pet adoption. More than just cute alternatives to the Rams and Patriots on CBS, Hallmark's "cat-letes" are tackling a serious problem; 6.5 million cats and dogs enter shelters ever year according to the ASPCA. In advance of Sunday's tip-off, photos from the big game are shared below.
