What if a cat ran your town? That’s not a joke. It really happened. In a small Alaskan town called Talkeetna , the people once elected a cat—yes, a real cat—as their mayor. No political platform, no speeches, no promises. Just a yellow tabby named Stubbs , and a whole lot of people who were fed up with traditional politics. It started with a protest vote The year was 1997 , and local elections were approaching in Talkeetna. This wasn’t a formal city with an official government—it was an unincorporated town with no legal need for a mayor. Still, symbolic elections were held. But that year, the official candidates disappointed the locals. As a joke—or perhaps as a statement of frustration—residents rallied around a kitten from Nagley’s General Store . They wrote in "Stubbs" on the ballot. He won. Just like that, Mayor Stubbs became a thing. What began as satire turned into a 20-year-long story. Talkeetna in the late 1990s Snowy rural streets, wood-paneled shops...
What if a cat ran your town?
That’s not a joke. It really happened.
In a small Alaskan town called Talkeetna, the people once elected a cat—yes, a real cat—as their mayor.
No political platform, no speeches, no promises. Just a yellow tabby named Stubbs, and a whole lot of people who were fed up with traditional politics.
It started with a protest vote
The year was 1997, and local elections were approaching in Talkeetna.
This wasn’t a formal city with an official government—it was an unincorporated town with no legal need for a mayor.
Still, symbolic elections were held. But that year, the official candidates disappointed the locals.
As a joke—or perhaps as a statement of frustration—residents rallied around a kitten from Nagley’s General Store.
They wrote in "Stubbs" on the ballot.
He won.
Just like that, Mayor Stubbs became a thing. What began as satire turned into a 20-year-long story.
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Talkeetna in the late 1990sSnowy rural streets, wood-paneled shops, and a small town hall entrance with cat paw stickers
Talkeetna village street, rustic charm, cat paw stickers on town hall
A mayor who never gave a speech—only purrs
Stubbs had no political authority, no agenda, and certainly no meetings.
But every day, he sat proudly on his desk in the back office of the general store, accepting belly rubs and treats.
Locals loved him.
Tourists came from across the country just to take selfies with the world’s most relaxed mayor.
He brought visibility—and business—to the tiny town.
In fact, Stubbs became the centerpiece of Talkeetna’s tourism.
Shops sold “Stubbs for President” T-shirts.
News outlets from CNN to BBC covered the story.
Stubbs at workA yellow tabby cat sits on a desk, surrounded by smiling tourists snapping photos
Mayor Stubbs sitting proudly on office desk, surrounded by smiling locals
Behind the joke, a message about trust
Stubbs was more than a novelty.
He became a kind of symbolic rebellion against empty campaign promises and political showmanship.
People said things like:
“At least Stubbs doesn’t lie.”
“He never raises taxes, just expectations.”
“I trust him more than most mayors I've had.”
In an era of growing political cynicism, Stubbs gave people a reason to smile—and a leader they could count on to be... consistently feline.
Tourists lining upPeople with cameras queue up outside a shop window; a cat peeks through the glass inside
Tourists lining up to photograph Stubbs, cat waving through window
A cat’s legacy, written in purrs
Stubbs passed away in 2017, at the age of 20.
The town mourned. Flowers and candles appeared below his framed photo.
Children left drawings and notes like “Thank you, Mr. Mayor.”
Even in death, he remained part of Talkeetna’s story.
The town didn’t replace him.
Because how do you follow a mayor who never betrayed your trust?
Memorial for StubbsA framed cat photo on a wall, with candles and flowers below, surrounded by handwritten messages
Stubbs memorial corner with framed cat photo, candles and flowers on wall
Why Stubbs mattered more than you’d think
Stubbs didn’t solve infrastructure issues.
He didn’t pass any bills.
But he represented something politics desperately needs: honesty, stability, and a little humor.
Sometimes, the best leaders don’t wear suits.
Sometimes, they have fur, whiskers, and a nap schedule.
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