Toledo Police Will Get “Police Cat” After Twitter Challenge

TOLEDO, OH -- Toledo Police are getting a police cat — at least that’s the offer if they reach 20,000 Twitter followers and 3,500 more on Instagram. “As we said earlier on social media, the challenge has been accepted,” said Toledo Police Chief George Kral in a video posted to Twitter. “If we can get a total of 20,000 followers on Twitter and 3,500 on Instagram, we’ll adopt this little guy and he’ll have a home with the Toledo Police Department.” The “little guy” in question, a greyish black cat named Chase who appears with Kral in the video, growls and hisses a bit, which the chief handles like a professional.

Why a police cat? It all started with the Police Department in Troy, Michigan. The department made a joke on Twitter about needing a police cat, and with cat memes flying like fur in, well, a cat fight, the department made the joke real, offering to get a cat if they reached 10,000 Twitter followers. In less than a week, at nearly 11,000 followers, Troy Police announced they were getting a police cat, and have partnered with the Michigan Humane Society not only for their own adoption, but, they hope, to get fur-ever homes for other felines and canines. The Toledo Humane Society is partnering with the Toledo Police for their police cat adoption. Chase is one of their shelter cats, and Chief Kral taped his video with Chase at Humane Society HQ.

The Troy Police challenged Toledo’s department via Twitter Thursday, prompting Chase’s “recruitment” and Chief Kral’s video. By Friday, the department had 17,500 followers, so Chase should start polishing his holster because the police cat call could come at any time. Anyone interested in a purely civilian kitty - or a dog - should check out the Toledo Humane Society online, or visit them in person at 827 Illinois Ave, Maumee.

Photo via Toledo Police Department.