Belgian PM's cat Maximus is social media star with subliminal political message'

"Maximus Textoris Pulcher was announced in August as an official resident at the Belgian prime minister's office, Rue de la Loi 16 in central Brussels. The grey rescue cat is now thought to have the second most popular political account on Belgian social media, with more than 142,000 followers on Instagram second only to his master, Bart De Wever, who became Belgium's prime minister in February."

"The cat's full name is a mock-grandiose title rooted in the prime minister's love of Latin and Roman history, conveying the meaning De Wever's beautiful Maximus (textoris being of the weaver, or De Wever). De Wever adopted the cat, an abandoned Scottish fold, from a refuge. I have a cat in my office, it is grey and it does not catch mice, but I love it anyway, he told journalists during a recent press conference."

"Maximus's posts on Instagram have lit up the Belgian internet, whether he is stretching for a toy, lolling on a windowsill or being tickled on his chest to an electropop soundtrack. 'What is this I see here?' asks Maximus, looking at an image of Bart De Wever meeting Keir Starmer and Larry, the Downing Street cat. Unlike Larry, officially an apolitical cat, Maximus offers subtle observations on his country's political life."

Larry the Cat charmed visitors to 10 Downing Street for nearly 15 years. Maximus Textoris Pulcher was announced in August as an official resident at the Belgian prime minister's office at Rue de la Loi 16 in central Brussels. The grey rescue Scottish fold has amassed more than 142,000 Instagram followers, making him the second most popular political account in Belgium after Prime Minister Bart De Wever. The cat's mock-grandiose Latin name reflects De Wever's interest in Latin and Roman history. De Wever adopted Maximus from a refuge and says he loves the grey office cat despite its lack of mouse-catching. Maximus's posts blend playful images with subtle political observations, using captions and thought bubbles to nod to strikes and budget talks.

Read at www.theguardian.com