The Cincinnati Bearcats are the athletic teams of the University of Cincinnati, competing in NCAA Division I sports. The university’s visual identity centers on two distinct marks: the C-Paw, a letter “C” converted into a paw, which serves as the primary athletics logo, and the Bearcat mascot graphics, which represent the entire UC community.
Design and History
The Bearcat name originated on Oct. 31, 1914, during a football game against the University of Kentucky Wildcats. UC cheerleader Norman “Pat” Lyon created the chant, “They may be Wildcats, but we have a Baehr-cat on our side,” building on the efforts of fullback Leonard K. “Teddy” Baehr. A cartoon by John “Paddy” Reece, published in the student newspaper on Nov. 3, depicted a creature labeled “Cincinnati Bear Cats” chasing a bedraggled Kentucky Wildcat.[1]
UC’s athletics logo evolved through several distinct phases. Early logos encompassed a block C. A Bearcat head emerged on uniforms in the 1940s, followed by a crowned “gingerbread man” Bearcat in the early 1960s recognizing UC’s back-to-back national titles. A fiercer Bearcat appeared in the mid-1960s, and a rounder, smoother creature made its way into the logo in the 1970s. The 1980s brought an angry Bearcat head, and by the end of the decade, UC teams were marked by dueling horseshoes.[2]
The C-Paw surfaced as the official athletic logo in 1990. It was revised in 2005 to strengthen the mark, coinciding with the move to the Big East Conference.[2] The C-Paw is a federally registered trademark of the University of Cincinnati.[1]
In 2006, UC introduced a new mascot costume and logo set to create a consistent look across campus. The mascot underwent cosmetic alterations that summer, emerging “less a teddy bear and more of a beast,” in response to feedback from open forums led by the athletics branding task force and the design firm LPK. One key charge of the task force was to settle on a caricature that would match the figure on licensed merchandise.[3]
In September 2025, for the first time in nearly two decades, UC unveiled refreshed graphics of its Bearcat mascot. The university partnered with Torch Creative, a nationally recognized design firm, to develop a new portfolio of mascot logos. According to UC, these designs are “sharper, more flexible, and align more closely with the costumed Bearcat seen at games and events, while maintaining the tradition and pride long associated with UC.” The first set of new mascot graphics debuted in fall 2025, with additional options released throughout the year, including new sport-specific poses.[4]
Meaning and Symbolism
The Bearcat is the official mascot of the University of Cincinnati and is a symbol representative of the entire UC community.[5] The word “bearcat” first appeared in print circa 1889 as a synonym for the giant panda, translating the Chinese “xiong mao” (bear-cat). By 1895, naturalist H.N. Ridley reported that the binturong, a large cat from Malaysia, was known as the “bear-cat.”[1]
UC’s brand guidelines note that the plural “Bearcats” should be used when referencing students, faculty, staff, and other members of the UC community, supported by the university’s motto “Juncta Juvant” (“Strength in Unity”). “Bearcat” (singular) is reserved for referring to the official mascot itself.[5]
Typography and Design
Red and black are UC’s primary colors, serving as the core of the brand’s visual identity. The official UC Red is specified as Hex #e00122, with CMYK 0.100.81.4 and RGB 224.1.34. UC notes that UC Red has been adjusted from PMS 186C to PMS 200 per recommendation from Trademarks & Licensing to reproduce faithfully on printed products. UC Black is 100% black (Hex #000000).[6]
UC’s brand guidelines restrict the use of athletics marks. The C-Paw, the Cincinnati Wordmark, and the Bearcats Wordmark are never permitted to represent academic or administrative units and programs of the university. Only Athletics accounts are permitted to use the C-Paw.[5] The standard uses of the Bearcat mascot include the Bearcat standing in a hero pose, the Bearcat in stride, the Bearcat eyes, and the Bearcat head, each with defined safe-space requirements.[5]
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