Little Rock CBS affiliate KTHV has an on-air personality who comes and goes as he pleases but still manages to be a fan favorite.
Joey the Garden Cat has a robust facebook following. On his page, he’s described as “a feral cat that made the THV Weather Garden my home and the entire News staff and viewers my family.” It goes on to say, “In 2012, I was diagnosed with bone cancer and today I’m a survivor.”
TVNewsCheck’s Paul Greeley has a profile on the newsroom feline.
“Joey just showed up,” said Theba Lolley, Joey’s momma-agent, and KTHV’s community relations director, careful to not let me get the idea that this was some sort of publicity stunt.
“He adopted us.”
Joey appeared one day at the station’s outdoor weather garden in early 2007, an area of plants and rock features just outside the station’s studio, no doubt attracted by the presence of another adopted cat named Larry.
“We think he was about 3-4 months old,” said Jonathan Nettles, the station’s promotions producer. When Larry was hit by a car later that year and died, Joey became attached to morning news weatherman, Tom Brannon.
Joey uses his fame to benefit hurt or abandoned animals by raising money. The station held a THV11 on the 11th $11.00 CATpaign to raise money for animal shelters.
“Joey getting cancer made people understand how important he was to them,” said Lolley. “and they could relate it to their own, or their pets’ cancer.”