Arizona unveils new version of 'Cats' helmets for Cincinnati game, partnership with ‘Friskies’

One side of the battle is the Wildcats, the other the Bearcats.

In honor of the battle of the Cats, Arizona is donning a navy blue "Cats" script decal on its white helmets — an updated look from the previous "Cats" helmets the UA has worn the past two seasons.   

Arizona reintroduced the retro "Cats" logo from the 1970s at Big 12 Media Days in 2024, but the logo was red and the face masks on the white helmets were red with a red, white and blue decal down the crown of the helmet. The red "Cats" logo is emblazoned on the hip of Arizona's game pants. 

The Wildcats wore metallic-red helmets with a "Cats" script decal in white font for their matchup with Kansas State — the other Wildcats in the Big 12 — in Manhattan two years ago.  

Arizona's "Cats" helmets for Saturday will also have blue face masks and the traditional red, white and blue decal down the middle of the helmet. The Wildcats are wearing their navy blue jerseys and pants for the "white out" game.

Not only is Arizona taking pride in being the Cats, but it's helping out actual cats, too. 

The UA announced a partnership with "Friskies," a cat food brand from Purina. The BYU Cougars, Missouri Tigers, Villanova Wildcats and Auburn Tigers — all schools with a type of cat as their mascot — are also included in the charitable partnership with the cat food brand. 

Every first score from the aforementioned programs — touchdown, field goal or safety — in the regular season, Purina is making a 10,000-meal donation to Greater Good Charities to help feed shelter cats in the schools' communities and other places. The campaign is called "Certified Frisky" and Purina is willing to donate up to 500,000 meals this football season.  

"Every great program starts with great recruits, and we couldn't be more excited to sign some of college sports' most recognizable feline talent," said Jason Dolan, a brand director for Friskies, in a released statement. "These cats already know how to steal the spotlight and rally their fans and that's exactly why we wanted them on the 'Certified Frisky' roster.

"Together, we're turning game day excitement into something bigger by helping cats in need."