A Texas attorney’s Zoom mishap during a virtual court hearing quickly went viral this week after he appeared on screen—not as himself—but as a wide-eyed gray kitten.
“I’m here, live. I’m not a cat,” said Rod Ponton, a county attorney, during the proceeding in Texas’ 394th District Court on Tuesday. The feline filter, left active on his secretary’s computer, transformed him into a bewildered-looking cat, much to the amusement of the courtroom.
Judge Roy Ferguson, presiding over the case, attempted to help Ponton disable the filter before later sharing the incident online as a lighthearted warning to legal professionals: “Check your Zoom settings before court.”
Ponton, who spoke to Vice, explained he was using his secretary’s device, unaware of the active filter. After troubleshooting, he resumed his arguments—but not before the internet immortalized his brief stint as a perplexed kitten arguing legal matters.
The Viral Moments, Ranked
The 42-second clip became an instant sensation, with these standout scenes:
The Realization: Ferguson informs Ponton of the filter, prompting the “cat” to glance off-screen, seemingly searching for a way to revert to human form.
The Innocent Question: Ponton, still feline, asks, “Can you hear me, judge?”
Judge’s Patience: Ferguson replies, “I can… I can see that,” before assisting.
Peer Reactions: Attorney H. Gibbs Bauer leans in, glasses on, visibly stunned by the kitten in court.
Missed the Memo: Another lawyer, Jerry Phillips, only looks up when Ponton declares, “I’m not a cat,” and stifles a laugh.
The Iconic Line: Ponton’s earnest plea—”I’m here, live. I’m not a cat”—sealed the moment’s place in internet history.
Ponton took the incident in stride, telling The New York Times: “If I can make the country chuckle for a moment in these difficult times, I’m happy to let them do it at my expense.”
The hearing proceeded normally once Ponton’s human face returned, but the internet—and legal lore—will remember the day a lawyer became a cat.
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