Morris the Cat is running in Xalapa, and it’s not from the neighborhood dogs.
The black-and-white kitten is running for mayor in the eastern Mexico city of roughly 450,000 under the slogan “Tired of Voting for Rats? Vote for a Cat.”
“He sleeps almost all day and does nothing, and that fits the profile of a politician,” said 35-year-old office worker Sergio Chamorro, who adopted the 10-month-old feline last year, the New York Post reported Saturday.
Disenchanted Mexicans have been putting forth their pets as happy alternatives to politicians, who they say are corrupt and full of empty promises.
Elections are being held July 7 in 14 states. Also running for mayor are Chon the Donkey in the border city of Ciudad Juarez, Tina the Chicken in Tepic, Maya the Cat in Puebla and Tintan the Dog in Oaxaca City, though their campaigns are not as well organized as that of Morris, the New York Post reported.
Gato Morris has more than 6,000 followers on Twitter and Facebook.
“Morris has been a catalyst to show the discontent that exists in our society,” Mr. Chamorro said to the New York Post. “Our message from the beginning has been ’If none of the candidates represent you, vote for the cat,’ and it seems people are responding to that.”
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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