It's been a dramatic few days for one kitten, but the twists and turns for Rally Cat only continued Thursday.
The kitten became a phenomenon last week when he pranced across the outfield at Busch Stadium during a game _ just before a Yadier Molina grand slam.
But now the nonprofit that captured the cat says it is being bullied by Cardinals officials for ownership of the kitten.
St. Louis Cat Outreach said it still hasn't decided where to send Rally for a permanent home, but the Cardinals claimed emphatic ownership Wednesday.
"The St. Louis Feral Cat Outreach organization has assured us they will be returning our cat to us after a mandatory 10-day quarantine period," Ron Watermon, the team's vice president of communications, said in an email to a reporter Wednesday.
The nonprofit fired back with a statement published on social media Thursday afternoon claiming no such promise was made.
"It seems inconsistent with 'The Cardinals Way' to make such false statements," the statement read. "We have neither the PR staff nor the skilled volunteers to engage in a media dialog with Mr Watermon's old-school PR tactics ... "
The nonprofit's statement also said: "Mr. Watermon's perceived bullying tactics shocked us."
The group said it still hopes to meet with Cardinals leadership to find a solution for what to do with Rally Cat.
Watermon said he was surprised by the nonprofit's response Thursday.
"It is personally hurtful to me, irresponsible and, frankly, childish," Watermon said in an email. "There is no need for the organization to personally attack me for doing my job."
