University’s beloved campus cat earns honorary doctorate in ‘litter-ature’

CASTLETON, Vt. (WCAX/Gray News) - A beloved cat named Max is among those graduating from a Vermont university this year, as he has been granted an honorary doctorate in “litter-ature.”

Outdoor cat Max has gained the hearts and minds of students and faculty alike at Vermont State University’s campus in Castleton, WCAX reports.

“I’ll pet him, give him a quick hug. He’s always super friendly, always super sweet. Sometimes, I see him chasing little animals, but that was when he was younger. He doesn’t do that as much anymore,” said Adsel Sparrow, a senior at the university.

Max lives a few steps away from the campus with Ashley Dow and her family. They got him four years ago.

“I was asked, ‘What’s your affiliation with the college?’ I was like, ‘My cat is the emotional support animal.’ He likes to be carried around on backpacks. Students pick him up, and he crawls up on their backs,” Ashley Dow said.

The university recently posted on Facebook that Max would be receiving an honorary doctorate in “litter-ature” alongside the Class of 2024. The tongue-in-cheek post noted the degree comes complete with “catnip perks, scratching post privileges and litter box responsibilities.”

Faculty say on top of Max’s pseudo-studies, he’s a big help to students, especially during a busy week of finals.

“You can see him enlighten students. Day to day, I look out my window and see him walking along, and I see students put down their phones and pick up Max. He jumps on their backs, and they’re taking selfies with him. He draws the crowds,” said Jessica Duncan, director of career development and innovation.

Officials in the admissions office say that sometimes Max is the highlight of the campus tours they give to prospective students and visitors.

“He comes out and actually greets most of our guests. He’ll follow them over to the old chapel where they get a general welcome, and then, when they start their tour, he usually follows right along with them,” said Brandon Kennedy, the associate director of admissions.

As the school year ends – and students head home for the summer – Max is bracing for a confusing time. Ashley Dow says breaks can confuse the cat and throw him off his normal self.

“He’ll go looking and then come back, kind of disappointed, kind of sad. He’ll stick around the house more, but it’s like he forgot they came back in the spring after one of the breaks, and he hasn’t really gone back up,” Ashley Dow said.

The Dow family looks forward to spending a bit more time with their cat, as he waits for his family down the road to return for another school year.

“He’s very lovable because almost every night, I go to do my nighttime routine, and he’s upstairs hanging out with me,” said Sydney Dow, Max’s human sister.

“There’s a while where he just stayed on campus. He’d forget to come home. The students will come back in the fall, and he’ll be gone for three days. We’ll have to go looking for him, and he’s there up on campus, hanging out and waiting for his people,” Ashley Dow said.