Cs get degrees — and so do cats.
Max, a 6-year-old tabby cat, has officially received his honorary degree from Vermont State University, and he is now a Doctor of Litter-ature.
He got his doctorate as part of Vermont State University’s 2024 class — the first combined graduating class since the summer 2023 merger of Castleton University, Northern Vermont University and Vermont Technical College.
Maurice Ouimet, the school’s dean of admissions and enrollment services, told CNN that the university doesn’t award doctorates to people, making Max an extremely special member of the community.
Rob Franklin, the school’s social media manager, was the one who came up with the idea to make the beloved cat part of the class of 2024.
“With a resounding purr of approval from the faculty, the Board of Trustees of the Vermont State Cat-leges has bestowed upon Max Dow the prestigious title of Doctor of Litter-ature, complete with all the catnip perks, scratching post privileges, and litter box responsibilities that come with it,” an Instagram post read.
“It was just intended to be just kind of lighthearted and kind of a joke but at the same time, realize that this cat did conjure up real feelings and real emotions and was a real support to a lot of people on our campuses during a difficult time,” Ouimet shared.
The cat has become a fixture at the university’s Castleton campus ever since his owner, Ashley Dow, started allowing him to roam outside of the house, which is walking distance from campus, and he surely makes himself at home.
The “very affectionate” cat is typically the first to greet Ouimet in the mornings, and sometimes will hang out in the admissions office during the winter, the dean told CNN.
“The rest of his daily routine really revolves around where our students are at,” Ouimet said. “So, he’ll frequently head up the hill and park himself outside one of our main academic buildings so as students come and go from class, he’ll oftentimes just be sitting on the wall.”
Students love seeing Max around campus — and Max loves them back.
“He’ll get up and get on their backpacks and they’ll walk around and everybody’s doing selfies,” Dow shared. “He just brings people to him.”
Ouimet added that the tabby even “has a job to do in welcoming people to the campus,” taking part in greeting those who come to tour the school.
Dr. Max The Cat even has his own school email — monitored by Dow and her daughter — and directory page.
Some of Max’s nuggets of wisdom that are included on his staff page include, “Learn where the sun shines warm and lie down for a nap,” and, “While nine lives are great, it’s best to enjoy every bit of the one life you have.”
