CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — A team of five football players from Eastern Illinois University is taking the lead in promoting the adoption of shelter cats. They recently set an example by adopting two kittens from the Coles County Animal Shelter.
“We decided that if we’re going to get a pet, rescue should be the way to go,” said Whitten Weems, a tight end on the team.
Weems recounted their experience, saying the moment they arrived at the shelter, they felt an instant bond as if the animals chose them.
“We brought our roommate along,” Weems explained. “He was seated when Bonnie, one of the kittens, leapt into his lap and stayed there comfortably for the duration of our visit.”
They adopted a six-week-old kitten, but his roommate and defensive end Joel Jameson said one cat just wasn’t enough.
“So we ended up getting Megatron,” said Jameson. “So pretty self explanatory that it’s just a bunch of guys living in this house, because it’s a pretty unconventional naming system.”
Megatron is a three-month-old kitten, named after both the Transformers’ antagonist and NFL wide receiver Calvin Johnson. As far as personalities go, he’s on the rambunctious side.
“He’s a dude, he likes to run around, jump around,” said Weems.
Bonnie’s a lot calmer, but just as curious.
“Cute ‘lil thing, all of like one pound,” said Jameson.
Since adopting the two of them Wednesday, the entire team has grown to love the two cats.
“You see a 325 pound o-lineman with these little kittens on him, and he just turns into a little boy,” said Jameson.
Now, some players are following suit.
“Some of our teammates went down, I think, two days ago and got themselves a kitten,” Jameson said. “And more guys are going later to do it. So yeah, it’s kind of everybody’ jumping on board.”
Jameson is now encouraging others to find their own feline dynamic duo like Bonnie and….Megatron.
Weems and Jameson both said they enjoyed their experience at the Coles County Animal Shelter, adding cat adoption fees are only $25 through the month of July.