Kat Moen, a senior majoring in animal sciences from Seattle, has recently revealed that she has been serving as WSU’s mascot, Butch T. Cougar, since the spring of 2023. Her friends were unaware of the reasons behind her frequent absences from social and sporting events over the past few years. The nature of her commitment remained undisclosed until she officially announced it on social media several weeks ago.
Butch’s identity is a closely guarded secret, and keeping the secret is the most difficult aspect of the job. “It was so hard to keep the secret,” Moen said. “I am a terrible liar, and I wanted to tell everyone so badly. I told my parents and my boyfriend, but I couldn’t tell my best friends. They were so upset to hear the truth when I revealed Butch’s identity on Instagram a few weeks ago.”
During her first year, Moen expressed her interest in becoming Butch to Dr. Kris Johnson while discussing her four-year education plan in the Animal Sciences Orientation class (Anim_Sci 180). Johnson noted that there was no reason a female could not assume the role of Butch and encouraged her to audition. Moen is now the fourth woman to wear the suit. “It was a fulfilling moment when I visited Dr. Johnson recently to inform her that she was correct – a female could indeed be Butch.” Before serving as Butch, Moen played the piccolo in the WSU marching band. “I appreciated the strong sense of school spirit and the vibrant energy while supporting the team on the field,” she said. “I sought a new experience beyond my role in the band.”
She followed Dr. Johnson’s recommendation and auditioned for Butch. During the process, she was interviewed, led a ‘Go Cougs’ chant on the field, and performed a skit using props to show her creativity. After securing the role, she enhanced her fitness at the gym and trained with her predecessor to master the character. “Butch is a predefined persona I adopted,” she said. “However, my own personality likely influenced his character.”
Butch is present at all sporting events and numerous marketing events for the University. Moen said, “It is certainly a fulltime commitment. I had to develop my time management skills to meet Butch’s obligations while maintaining my academic responsibilities.”
Moen loved interacting with all Coug fans as Butch, particularly children. Many children would present Butch with cards or drawings, which she has kept as keepsakes. The interactions at baseball games were particularly pleasant due to their spontaneous and enjoyable nature, often including activities such as tic-tac-toe or playful sword fights involving a straw and Butch’s tail.
“This experience has been both valuable and remarkable,” Moen said. “I acquired numerous interpersonal skills and learned how to adapt and navigate through a variety of unexpected situations. I did not anticipate any of this.”
As Moen transitions from her role as Butch, she is now focusing on gaining admission to veterinary school. With a passion for problem solving and working with both people and animals, Moen aspires to become a holistic large-animal veterinarian in a rural setting, utilizing a blend of conventional and alternative therapies to treat her patients. The time management skills she developed during her tenure as Butch will be invaluable in managing the demanding schedule of veterinary school, while her unique interpersonal abilities will facilitate effective interactions with her clients – man and beast.