Twelve hundred tickets were claimed online for the year’s Somerville Cat Tour, capping out the event, but that didn’t stop people from direct-messaging via Instagram on Saturday morning to try to squeeze in. The tours pawed off at noon from Tandem Vet on Beacon Street, running every 10 minutes with 100 people per group.
The second annual tour, in collaboration with Broken Tail Rescue of Cambridge, was oversaturated by media clawing to get an angle for photos and video, including student journalists and hobby photographers, NBC and The Boston Globe. The most famous, Matt Shearer, was this time a tour guide rather than WBZ reporter. All for 16 cats.
Each got their own spotlight during the tour, with prewritten blurbs showcasing their favorite treats and other trivia for the tourists; more often than not, there was a little feline freak-out after seeing 100 strangers, and many owners said this was the most people their kitties had seen at once.
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Cat tourists at Beacon and Washington streets for the second cat of the Saturday tour. (Photo: Carson Paradis) -
Midge, a Turkish Van mix on Harold Street in Somerville, ran away after being startled by 100 visiting strangers. (Photo: Carson Paradis)
A few cat parents did not realize the size of the event. “I guess I shouldn’t pack up just yet,” said Amy Russell, upon finding out another 1,000 participants were expected.
Some of the favorite cats happened off tour – so-called bonus cats. Nick DeAngelis, tour guide and co-owner of the organization Boston Cat Social, made sure to alert the crowd by shouting “bonus cat!” over the walking tour microphone with directions for where to look. Tourists pointed and rushed over, cheering.
“Bonus dogs do not count, let us have our day!” DeAngelis said.
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Biff, an 8-year-old orange on Carter Terrace in Somerville, with owner Amy Russell. (Photo: Carson Paradis) -
Zeitoon, a bonus cat on Saturday’s tour, is held by owner Serena Seferian. (Photo: Carson Paradis) -
Yimao, a 1-year-old rag doll on Oak Street, is held by owner Jessy Wang. (Photo: Carson Paradis)
Participants marked down their favorites on a superlative card so cats would receive recognition for their perfection: the floofiest, most mysterious, clearly plotting something, and least brain cells (this one was orange).
The group ended at Perry Park in Somerville’s Ward 2 for a pizza after-party filled with cat-themed vendors and cat karaoke. Yes – your favorite songs with the words dubbed with meows.
