New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famers Keith Hernandez expressed sorrow on losing his beloved cat, Hadji, with whom he had shared 22 years.
On Wednesday, the Mets broadcaster shared the news on social media with his followers.
“It’s with a heavy heart that I must tell you that I had to put Hadji down last week,” he shared on X. “It was his time to go. I loved him so much and miss him dearly. He was a great companion for 22 yrs. RIP my little guy.”
"My old buddy. See you in another life. I know you’ll be waiting for me with open paws," he wrote in another tweet. "It was his time to go. No quality of life. He passed painlessly and with dignity. Tough one. I don’t think I’ll ever get over it."
Fans resonated with what Keith Hernandez must be feeling after losing his cat as they shared their experiences. One wrote:
Keith Hernandez is a two-time World Series champion, earning five All-Star selections and an NL MVP. He now spends time in the booth calling Mets games.
Who is Hadji, Keith Hernandez's famous cat?
On Oct. 10, Keith Hernandez celebrated Hadji's 22nd birthday and shared warm pictures of his pet with his followers.
Hernandez first posted pictures with his cat in 2018, whom he named Hadji, taking inspiration from a character in the 1960s TV cartoon “Jonny Quest.” Ever since, he has regularly posted pictures with Hadji.
Hadji has captivated many Mets fans too, who often arrived to watch New York games with her cutouts and printed T-shirts.
“I cannot tell you how many people have twittered me pictures of their cat laying out in the sun going, ‘My cat is madly in love with Hadji. Can we hook them up?’,” Hernandez told The New York Times in 2018.
Hadji is likely a Bengal cat breed, resembling skin texture similar to jaguars and leopards. As per WebMD, their average lifespan lies somewhere between 12 and 16 years.