Kentucky Mascot - The Cat's Meow

The nickname “Wildcats” became synonymous with UK shortly after a 6-2 football victory at Illinois on Oct. 9, 1909.

Commandant Philip Carbusier, then head of the military department, told a group of students in a chapel service following the game that the Kentucky football team had “fought like wildcats.”

The nickname grew in popularity and was adopted by the university. The Wildcat mascot originated during the 1976-77 academic year at UK. Gary Tanner was the original Wildcat, dancing and entertaining thousands of UK fans.

A few years later, he was joined by another Cat - walking on stilts - who made his appearance during UK's twin tower era of Melvin Turpin and Sam Bowie. Even today, the original mascot is joined by Scratch, who's a more child-friendly mascot and serves as the host of UK's official Kids Club.

Today, both clothed mascots attend each football and basketball game, several academic functions and generally serve as friendly ambassadors for the University.