A cat has been spotted across campus over the past year in locations spanning from the Leadership Studies Building to McCain Auditorium.
The curious cat is a large gray and brown tabby with striped legs and a full, fluffy tail, which can often be seen taking long walks on the streets and lounging by All Faiths Chapel. It has been seen around campus since at least last semester, and it appears that no one truly knows where the cat came from.
One student, Corbin Sedlacek, junior in accounting, said he thought the cat belonged to another famed KSU resident.
“I honestly just thought that the cat was the president’s cat,” Sedlacek said.
However, Dana Hastings, executive assistant to the president, said President Myers does not have a cat.
While the origin of the cat is still unknown, it seems as if the cat is happy where it is and is living well. More importantly, the cat seems to be eating well, said Kait Long, program and project associate for the Staley School of Leadership Studies.
“I walked out of the Leadership Studies Building on the south side and went to the left, and there was a large group of people that were all standing very excitedly, pointing, and I see this thing dart across the street, and it’s the cat,” Long said. “People were really excited that there was a cat, and I realized that the cat was hunting a squirrel.”
Several students have said they think the cat is a welcome addition to the K-State family and it adds a sense of home to the campus. Sedlacek said he thought it was a great representation of the Wildcats.
“I think it’s kind of cool to see the cat, because we are the Wildcats, and it’s kind of like we have a little mascot floating around,” Sedlacek said.
Kristen Jones, sophomore in secondary education, said she thinks the cat is a unique surprise for students.
“I’m really not used to seeing a cat on campus — I’m really used to seeing squirrels — but a cat was definitely a first for me,” Jones said. “It kind of had a homey feel; I liked seeing it.”
When asked if she thought there was any major health concern attributed to having a cat on campus, Jones said she couldn’t think of any major repercussions to the feline visitor.
“I mean, I don’t ever see him actually go and interact with anybody,” Jones said. “Other cats might be concerned, but not really humans.”
Sedlacek said he also was not concerned about the cat living on campus.
“Is it a health concern?” Sedlacek said. “Not really. I myself am allergic to cats, so if I went up and petted it for five minutes, I’d be really in danger, but since it is outside and it’s not really going around anyone, I don’t feel like it’s an issue.”
When the cat was asked “Who is a good kitty?” it chose not to comment.
