Most Australians are already quietly seething with jealousy over New Zealand‘s newly elected Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The PM-elect, at just 37-years-old, is the youngest Kiwi PM in 160 years. She also managed to score the job after taking over leadership of the New Zealand Labour Party just seven weeks before the country went to the polls, storming into the top job on a platform of left-leaning, common-sense policies and good-natured, down-to-earth charm.
As it turns out, she’s even better at country-leading pets than we are too. God damn it.
One of the first photos of a beaming Ardern shot just after she was confirmed as the country’s new Prime Minister featured her cradling a precious wee kitty of unknown identity.
Welcome Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, the youngest PM in 160 years. pic.twitter.com/Sh7CV9rxyv
— Joy Gribben (@joygribben1) October 19, 2017
As it turns out, that cat is named Paddles, and it is now the official First Cat of New Zealand.
That’s not a media-appointed title, either. Paddles now has her own Twitter feed under the handle @FirstCatofNZ.
Hi, I’m Paddles and I am the First Cat of New Zealand. I have opposable thumbs, I’m purrty special. pic.twitter.com/MPkxdhWCRu
— The Ghost of Paddles (@FirstCatofNZ) October 21, 2017
KIT.
Paddles Ardern-Gayford’s (full legal name) Twitter bio asserts she is an Independent cat who is not necessarily affiliated with the “Labour Pawty.” Bless.
Paddles has already commented on a range of different political issues and has confirmed her stance is extremely pro-box when it comes to allowing multinational companies into the country.
All I care about is a good box tbh. Mum will deal with those politicat pawlicies https://t.co/zWAWjyfy8L
— The Ghost of Paddles (@FirstCatofNZ) October 24, 2017
She’s also extremely pro-legalisation on the subject of medicinal and recreational catnip.
Legalise 🤙 https://t.co/jKNmnSTasb
— The Ghost of Paddles (@FirstCatofNZ) October 24, 2017
And she has some extremely strong views on the activist Gareth Morgan, who once called for New Zealand’s domestic cat population to be eradicated.
My pawlicy is and remains:
1. Hisssssssssss
2. SCRATSCH https://t.co/lDSnlpluQC— The Ghost of Paddles (@FirstCatofNZ) October 24, 2017
There’s no official confirmation as to who exactly is running the Twitter account as of yet, though mainstream media is speculating that it could be the work of Ardern’s partner, fishing show host Clarke Gayford.
But Paddles herself has moved to assert that each and every tweet is typed by her own paws.
Don’t understand what they mean by who is behind my account? I have thumbs! #HaveThumbsWillTweet @NewshubNZ https://t.co/3R0sugzcJd
— The Ghost of Paddles (@FirstCatofNZ) October 24, 2017
That’s all the evidence we need, TBH.
WE LOVE YOU PADDLES AND ALSO NEW ZEALAND.
