Meet Talkeetna, Alaska's Mayor, A Cat Named Stubbs

Mayor Stubbs of Talkeetna, Alaska

In case you haven't heard, a part-manx cat named Stubbs has been the mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska for nearly his entire life, 15 years to be exact, and the residents of this tiny town of 900 think he is the best mayor they've ever had.

As the story goes, 15 years ago several of the town residents didn't like the candidates who were running for mayor of Talkeetna, so as a joke, they encouraged enough people to elect Stubbs the cat as a write-in candidate, and he actually won.

Now, thanks to Stubbs, local tour guides have a little fun with the thousands of tourists by encouraging them to go to Nagley's General Store (Stubbs office)to ask for the mayor without realizing they are asking to meet with a four-footed mayor.

Stubbs relaxing in his mayoral office

Nagley’s General Store — Mayor Stubbs’ makeshift Town Hall — gets dozens of visitors a day asking for the mayoral feline, and receives letters and cards from all over in his honour.

And as the legend of Stubbs spreads, the folks at Nagley’s report that more and more people are flocking to the store, and even making trips to Alaska just to catch a glimpse of the cat mayor.

“Oh my gosh, we probably have 30 to 40 people a day come in who are tourists wanting to see him,” Lauri Stec, a worker at Nagley’s, said.

Stubbs is thirsty for lower taxes!

Though residents say he's been taking his fame in stride, with his major indulgence being a daily dose of catnip served from a wine glass.