From Grove squirrels to honors faculty koi fish, the University of Mississippi campus is teeming with animals which can be adored by college students. Among these unofficial mascots is Gary the Guyton cat, a black-and-white pet that holds a particular place within the hearts of many on campus.
Frequently discovered roaming across the School of Education’s Guyton Hall, Gary has turn out to be a necessary a part of campus since he appeared in November 2021. The cat is below the care of Feral University Rebel Rescuers, and he receives a number of love and a spotlight from schooling and non-education majors alike.
Junior schooling main Elle D’Angelo took her adoration for Gary to a different stage by creating an Instagram web page showcasing the day-to-day lifetime of the feline. She highlighted what Gary’s residing scenario appears like.
“One can typically find him nestled in the Guyton courtyard, where he has a 24-hour heated blanket inside of his house,” D’Angelo stated. “He also always has fresh food and water, though he loves when people stop by to give him treats.”
Gary has been dubbed the mascot of the School of Education, albeit unofficially.
“He has definitely turned into our mascot,” D’Angelo stated. “We’ve had shirts made, he’s on posters (and) he’s on all of our postcards and things like that.”
Cat movies are one of many highlights of the web, and Gary’s Instagram web page is not any completely different. D’Angelo talked about how persons are consistently sending in humorous movies or footage of Gary and that posting him about as soon as every week could be very straightforward.
“It’s really fun because we’re over 1,000 followers,” D’Angelo stated.
Many college students and college and workers members love to go to Gary, however D’Angelo revealed that he additionally has a feminine feline good friend.
“He does have a girlfriend over at Kappa Sig, so if you see him crossing the street, that’s what he’s doing,” D’Angelo stated.
Gary’s life on campus contains fixed occasions and fundraisers thrown in his honor. Last fall, Gary celebrated his fifth birthday and loved a celebration, however the festivities are greater than only a celebration for the cat. The occasion included raffles for particular Gary memorabilia, equivalent to Gary-themed ornaments and a pillow, and all proceeds had been donated to FURR.
Gary is a really sociable cat and almost at all times has firm. He loves treats and batting round his many cat toys. He could be very playful, although he does take some time to get used to somebody.
“It took him a whole semester for him to really warm up to me,” D’Angelo stated.
A favourite custom amongst School of Education college students is Gary’s participation within the commencement ceremony.
“We film him walking throughout the year,” D’Angelo stated. “And so, as you’re walking in, there’s Gary walking down.”
Senior interdisciplinary research main Mabry Freeland confirmed that Gary loves guests and a spotlight.
“He’s so sweet,” Freeland stated. “He loves to come up to people as long as you’re not too loud. He’ll rub up on your legs and stuff.”
D’Angelo shared that she believes Gary is the glue that holds schooling majors collectively at UM.
“You know, I feel like he brings a lot of School of Education people together,” D’Angelo stated. “Even my professor, during opening ‘fun facts,’ said she wasn’t really a cat person but loved seeing him.”
Love for Gary extends even past the School of Education. Locklynn Wilchynski, freshman regulation research main, shared her adoration of the feline.
“I love (Gary) so much. He’s really sweet and can sometimes be playful,” Wilchynski stated.
While Gary sticks across the south aspect of campus, his sociable fame follows him throughout the UM.
“Gary would love for you to come visit,” D’Angelo stated. “You know, sit down, bring him a treat, he loves treats. Just come hang out with him.”
