(Picture Credit: JENNIFER YOUNG/AFP/Getty Images)
Sometimes dealing with politicians can get a little tiresome. Instead, some people prefer to work with politi-cats.
In the spirit of Presidents Day, it’s a good time to think about our world leaders. Maybe a feline ruler wouldn’t be such a bad idea. They seem to have a lot of power over us already, anyway!
Meet these seven amazing cats who ran for political office. Find out which of them actually got the job!
1. Barsik Ran For Mayor Of A Siberian Town
Barsik, a Scottish fold, got 91.6 percent of the votes in an unofficial poll for mayor of a Siberian town called Barnaul. Residents were tired of corruption and scandals and wanted a different kind of politician.
Despite his popularity, he never registered as a formal candidate, unfortunately. But if he had, he might have taken the win by a landslide.
2. Limberbutt McCubbins Wanted To Be The US President
Limberbutt McCubbins from Kentucky officially registered his candidacy for President of the United States with the FEC. He ran with the Democratic Party and had a campaign webpage that explained his platforms, including fair wages, a just tax code, and affordable health care for animals.
He was endorsed by the publication Jezebel and was featured in other major media publications. Limberbutt’s hashtag was, quite fittingly, #meowisthetime.
3. Dr. Jekyll Also Ran For President
It seems there are a lot of felines competing for the most powerful political position in the world. Dr. Jekyll is a fluffy orange cat who also ran for President of the United States. He officially registered with the FEC, too.
Dr. Jekyll even won a HuffPost Live Pet Debate.
4. Morris The Cat Ran For Mayor In Mexico
Morris, an adorable black-and-white cat, ran for mayor of Xalapa, Mexico. Even though his election was a few years ago, he still has more than 350,000 likes on his Facebook page.
Morris’s owner said about his campaign: “[Morris] sleeps almost all day and does nothing, and that fits the profile of a politician.”
His name didn’t actually appear on the ballot, but citizens were encouraged to write in his name when they voted.
5. Hank Got 6,000 Write-In Votes For US Senate
One cat actually made a good showing in an election. Hank ran for US Senate in Virginia in 2012 and managed to get 6,000 write-in votes. He was a Maine Coon cat who ran as an Independent, with a platform that included animal rescue, spay/neuter programs, and job growth.
In addition to getting so many votes, Hank also got $16,000 in donations, which went to local animal rescue groups. Hank passed away in 2014 at the age of 13; however, his Facebook page still has more than 100,000 followers.
In fact, Hank’s fans worked on a documentary about his Senate run that was released in 2016.
6. Earl Grey Ran For Canadian Prime Minister
Next on our list is Earl Grey, the cat who ran for Canadian prime minister as leader of the Tuxedo Party. Earl Grey’s campaign goal was to raise awareness about animal cruelty, especially laws passed during Victorian times that were no longer effective.
Earl Grey also ran for Premier of Nova Scotia in 2013 and his late brother, Tuxedo Stan, ran for Mayor of Halifax in 2012. Earl Gray was shyer than his brother, Stan, but a little catnip was all it took to bribe him into doing “meet and greets” with potential voters.
7. Stubbs Became Mayor Of Talkeetna, Alaska
And last, but certainly not least, is a cat who actually held political office. Stubbs was mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska from 1997 until his death in 2017.
He saw 30 to 40 tourists a day. Every day, the cute orange cat went to a restaurant and drank water from a wine glass lined with catnip.
Some sources say that Stubbs was only an honorary mayor, since Talkeetna is a historical district. Others say he was elected after a successful write-in campaign. But even though he lived to be 20 years old now, he never slowed down.
In 2014, at the age of 16, he also made a run for US Senate.
Don’t forget, Presidents Day is February 17th this year, so you might have the day off! More time to stay home and pet your furry feline leader.
Do you think your cat would make a good politician? Would you consider voting for a cat for president or other political office? Then let us know in the comments below!
Save
Save