Kitten Bowl 2022: Why Hallmark Canceled Feline Football Game Before Super Bowl

For years, Hallmark has turned Super Bowl Sunday into one of the cutest times of the year with the annual Kitten Bowl. However, animal-lovers won’t be getting their feline fix this weekend after the network canceled the 2022 furry game.

News of the Kitten Bowl's cancellation broke on Feb. 5, when a fan on Facebook asked about the lineup. Hallmark revealed it is no longer focusing on animal content.

“While we are not currently developing original animal-centric programming, Hallmark Channel is pleased to support partners like North Shore Animal League America as part of our commitment to social responsibility initiatives,” a rep for the network stated.

On Monday, Joanne Yohannan, senior vice president of operations at North Shore Animal League America, told Variety they receive a donation from the network following the cancellation of the event.

“Hallmark Channel made the decision not to move forward with Kitten Bowl this year and, while we miss working on this lifesaving program with them, we are grateful for their recent donation of $25,000 for #BettyWhiteChallenge and hopeful that Kitten Bowl will return in the future,” Yohannan said in a statement.

Over the years, the feline football game, which would air ahead of the Super Bowl, helped over 75,000 pets find a home.

Bill Abbott, the former CEO and president of Hallmark parent company Crown Media, left the company in 2020 and landed at GAC Media. On Feb. 6, Abbott reacted to the news of the cancellation.

“Kitten Bowl was a passion project that everyone involved will always be deeply proud to have been a part of. Grateful we were able to find fur-ever homes for so many,” he tweeted.

“Please continue to support Animal League in their mission to find all these animals loving homes. #GetYourRescueOn and #adopt a furry friend!”

Despite the cancellation of the 2022 fur-baby event, GAC Media is reportedly interested in acquiring the Kitten Bowl in hopes of airing the program next year.