Watch a Shifty Cat Sneak into a Football Game and Run for a Touchdown

A few years ago, just a week after Halloween, MetLife Stadium was host to an exciting football game between division rivals — the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys. The game was going well for the home team with a score of 9 to 3 in favor of the Giants… until a black cat decided to make a special appearance.

At some point during the second quarter, a black cat ran onto the field during a play, causing officials to stop gameplay while they tried to corral it. However, they quickly realized that this was not going to be an easy task. The cat rapidly zigged and zagged its way across the field, avoiding capture from not one but two policemen and several state troopers.

Watch the Hilarious Video Here!

The Frenzied Feline Scores a Touchdown

Kevin Harlan, the sports broadcaster, gave excellent commentary and a play-by-play of the cat’s moves. “He’s in the three, now the two, now he’s in the red zone — but now a state trooper and policeman have come onto the field. And the cat runs into the endzone… and that is a touchdown!”

After its victory dance in the endzone, the black cat whizzed past security personnel and players. It ran into one of the tunnels leading out of MetLife Stadium — and just like that, it disappeared into thin air. Or maybe it wasn’t thin air… maybe it went back to wherever black cats go when they’re not running amok on football fields interrupting games (witches’ houses? dungeon lairs? Cuddly cat piles in front of the fire?). We may never know.

Some of the Giants’ fans said they believed the black cat was bad luck since the Giants were leading 9 to 3 when play was stopped due to the presence of the animal on the field, but ultimately ended up losing 38 to 17. On the other hand, though, maybe the black cat was actually a good luck charm for the Cowboys! In either case, it certainly was an exciting moment for everyone involved, and definitely made for one interesting game.

Is It Normal Behavior for a Cat to Wander Into a Sports Game?

While it’s not usual for a cat or other animal to end up being the main attraction in a sporting event, this isn’t the first time it’s happened. When a cat or other animal does wander onto a field and hold up the action, it makes for a humorous and entertaining spectacle for humans.

While the 2019 Black Cat at MetLife Stadium went viral, there have been a few other entertaining moments captured on video. For example, in 2021, a tabby cat found himself in the middle of Yankee Stadium in the middle of a game. Multiple men were chasing it for several minutes, trying to remove it from the field while the crowd cheered, chanted, and booed. In 2010, a squirrel ran across Target Field during a Major League Baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins. And in 1996, a pigeon disrupted a tennis match at Wimbledon, delaying the game, as onlookers got some amusement.

How Large Are Domestic Cats?

Generally, domestic cats have a height range of 9 to 10 inches to the shoulder, measure 18 to 20 inches long, and weigh between 5 and 20 pounds. The size is determined by the breed. Some breeds like the Maine Coon are larger, weighing from 15 to 25 pounds.

The cat in the video appeared of average size. Though it was small in the midst of such a huge arena, it made a big impression, holding up the progression of the game until it found its way off the field!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock.com