Mittens (cat) facts for kids
Mittens visiting Victoria University of Wellington in November 2018
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| Other name(s) |
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|---|---|
| Species | Felis catus |
| Breed | Turkish Angora |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | 2009 (age 15–16) |
| Occupation | |
Mittens is a famous domestic cat from New Zealand. He used to live in Wellington, the capital city, where he was known for exploring the city center. Mittens is a real adventurer, often wandering up to 2 kilometers (about 1.2 miles) from his home! Many people loved taking Selfie pictures with him. Sometimes, people who thought he was lost would take him to the SPCA or the police, but everyone soon learned he was just on one of his adventures.
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Mittens Becomes a Star
Mittens was born in Auckland, another big city in New Zealand. He became a huge social media celebrity after he and his owner, Silvio Bruinsma, moved to Wellington in 2017. His brother, Latte, also lived with them but has since passed away.
Mittens became so popular that he was even featured on the 2018 Wellington Advent Calendar. This was an online calendar that counted down the days until Christmas. Because Mittens was so well-known for his wanderings, an SPCA staff member named Sam Thacker shared a friendly message. She asked people not to worry or take Mittens in if they saw him, as the SPCA knew all about his unique habits.
Awards and Recognition
Mittens received a very special honor on May 22, 2020. He was given the Key to the City of Wellington! This is a symbolic award given to people or, in this case, a cat, who have made a big impact on the city. Other famous people who have received this key include movie directors Sir Peter Jackson and Sir Richard Taylor.
Later in 2020, Mittens was the main subject of a special display at the Wellington Museum. He was also nominated for the New Zealander of the Year award in August of that year.
A Brief Adventure
On February 5, 2021, Mittens was seen being taken into a car. It seemed someone had taken him to their home, perhaps to take more pictures. Mittens' owner said this was a "massive error in judgement" by the person. Luckily, with the help of the online community, Mittens was quickly found and returned safely home.
Moving On
On November 10, 2021, news came out that Mittens was planning to move back to his original home city of Auckland. The mayor of Wellington at the time, Andy Foster, said that because Mittens had the Key to the City, he was always welcome to visit Wellington again.
Mittens in Books and Songs
Mittens' fame also led to him being featured in creative works. A children's song called "Mittens" was released in December 2020. It was created by Chris Sanders and Natalie Conaty. This song became very popular and reached number one on the New Zealand iTunes Charts for top songs.
In August 2021, a book titled "The Adventure of Mittens" was released by Penguin Books. The book was written by Mittens' owner, Silvio Bruinsma, and had illustrations by Phoebe Morris.
See also
- List of individual cats
