By Tim Binnall
A 'psychic' cat in Ireland is raising eyebrows thanks to its astonishing streak of correctly picking the winner of all 19 World Cup matches that have had a decisive victor so far. The remarkable run reportedly began earlier this month when its owners, Linka Lin and Mark Kelly, celebrated the start of the wildly popular football tournament by presenting the British shorthair, named Billy, with small flags representing the nations facing off in each particular game. As the matches progressed, the couple noticed something rather unusual unfolding before their eyes.
Of the 44 games played so far, 19 have ended with a decisive winner rather than a draw, and, in each case, Billy's prediction has proven correct. As the cat's streak has extended to an almost unfathomable length, the fantastic feline has become something of a social media sensation among football fans anxious for any sign that their country might have an edge heading into a match. "As a cat, he doesn't seem to be bothered that he's an online influencer," Linka jokingly mused, "I guess he probably will find it surprising he has had more treats lately than ever."
While Billy's predictions have largely resulted in "a lot of really kind messages," Linda noted that the feline has occasionally run afoul of fans who take the tournament a bit too seriously. "There were some borderline threatening comments like 'you'd better be right,'" she said, "but overwhelmingly it's been very good." With a bevy of games still to be played, Linka conceded that keeping the streak alive could prove to be a challenge. "It's going to be harder and harder to get it right with time, and the level of expectation will be heavier," she said, "but I'm pretty confident he can handle that."