Milwaukee Company Unveils Zoom Cat Bobblehead

MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WI—A viral incident involving a cat filter is getting the bobblehead treatment.

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled on Wednesday two bobbleheads of the cat who became a viral internet hit in hilarious fashion when a Texas lawyer appeared as a cat during a virtual court session that was being held on Zoom, according to a news release.

The bobbleheads of the cat, which has come to be known as the “Zoom cat”, are being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum.

Just like in the viral video, the bobbleheads feature a white cat with large eyes.

The first bobblehead features the cat looking forward while the second features the cat with its concerned eyes looking downward. The cat’s bobbing head is positioned on the screen of a mini laptop computer with keyboard. The laptop also has the phrase, “I’m Not a Cat” on the front.

The video of Rod Ponton appearing as a cat during a virtual civil forfeiture hearing on February 9th has been viewed millions of times online around the world.

The Presidio County Attorney said he was using his secretary’s computer when the filter popped up, replacing his face with that of a fluffy white kitten. As his assistant was trying to rectify the issue and the other lawyers on screen wryly smiling, Ponton can be heard saying, “I’m here live. I’m not a cat.”

Judicial District Court Judge Roy Ferguson, who took the incident in good humor, shared the video on social media, advising people to make sure that filters are turned off before joining virtual hearings.

Ferguson went on to say fun moments like the one that unfolded in his courtroom are the byproduct of a legal profession dedicated "to ensuring that the justice system continues to function in these tough times."

"Everyone involved handled it with dignity, and the filtered lawyer showed incredible grace," he said, adding that he was making the video public "for educational purposes" and that "it is crucial this not be used to mock the lawyers, but instead to exemplify the legal community's dedication to the cause of justice."

Ponton became an instant internet celebrity following the viral video, receiving a deluge of emails and phone calls.

The bobblehead museum recently commemorated the viral moment of Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) who was pictured watching the Inauguration ceremony to swear in Joe Biden as the nation's 46th President.

The newest bobblehead of Zoom cat follows a string of recent bobbleheads commemorating viral moments, such as the Mike Pence Fly Bobblehead, which was released the day after the viral moment from the Vice President debate on October 7, 2020.

The Zoom cat bobbleheads are only available for pre-order through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. The bobbleheads are $25 each or $45 for the set of two plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order. Each bobblehead will be individually numbered and they are expected to ship in June.

Beth Dalbey, Patch Staff, contributed to this report.