Host of animal-focused alternatives to Super Bowl

With six days to go, anticipation may manifest in the form of hyper-inflated bags of chips poking out of cupboards, stuffed alongside cases of beverages and an array of snack foods — and all in the house have been warned against going near them before Sunday.

If the next few days are spent making sure the flat screen is dust free, the remote has fresh batteries and the home theater system is adequately deafening, know that you are not alone.

An estimated 188.5 million people are planning to watch Super Bowl LI, according to the National Retail Federation, which reports that of nearly 7,600 surveyed in early January, 76 percent said they plan to watch the big game.

That, however, leaves 24 percent — presumably a fair number of which aren’t interested in football — looking for something else to watch on TV.

There are (insert sigh of relief) options, and for pet folks there are a couple that might be particularly appealing.

Leaping, tumbling, and tail-twitching pounces are sure to dominate Kitten Bowl IV on the Hallmark Channel. It’s hard to imagine anything cuter than a playing kitten, except of course an entire lineup of bouncy little fur balls filmed in 360 degrees of adorable.

Aimed at increasing awareness about the plight of homeless animals, the Kitten Bowl boasts that prior events have resulted in thousands of pet adoptions from local shelters.

Thanks to a couple hours between programming slots, tons of online content and repeat-broadcasts later on, animal lovers can have their kittens and puppies too.

Following a pre-game show, the infamous weather forecaster/groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil is slated to officiate the coin toss, kicking off three hours of Puppy Bowl XII.

Promising the best in puppy action for this year’s sports event, Animal Planet has vowed to wow with 78 fluffy tykes that are, incidentally, shelter and rescue pups from around the country — and all in the market for new homes. Rescue mascots will join them to cheer on the teams

A new feature, a virtual reality “Pup’s Eye View” will be available on the Puppy Bowl website and app, which allows viewers to watch from the perspective of “Buttons” as she competes on the field. In the spirit of Super Bowl LI, half-time entertainment will include a performance of “Puparazzi” by Kitty Gaga and there will also be a plethora of behind-the-scenes footage as well as locker room, water bowl and slow-motion cams, according to animalplanet.com/tv-shows/puppy-bowl.

If kitten and puppy bowls are a little too action packed, Fish Bowl IV, featuring the LA Clams vs. the Buffalo Gills is scheduled for National Geographic Wild. Set to music, beautiful aquatic competitors can be expected to explore every ounce of their picturesque bowls as they … swim … around.

Human football may, for some, be unavoidable, but no worries, there should be plenty of critters come ad time.

While many advertisers keep their Super Bowl plans carefully guarded leading up to the big day, a few have revealed teasers that include Roomba-riding cats, a candy-eating groundhog and a socially adaptable kangaroo.

So get the snacks ready and set aside the afternoon, because Super Bowl Sunday is sure to entertain animal-lovers — regardless of who plays, or wins for that matter.

Sharna Johnson is always searching for ponies. You can reach her at: [email protected]