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Congratulations Dr. Max! Vermont university awards honorary doctorate to cute feline; here's why

A cute cat named ‘Max’, who has been residing near the university campus for the past four years, has received an honorary degree of “doctor of litter-ature”.

Updated on: May 18, 2024, 23:41:57 IST
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A cute cat named ‘Max’, who has been residing near the university campus for the past four years, has received an honorary degree of “doctor of litter-ature”.

In a post on Instagram, the school announced, “Max the Cat has been an affectionate member of the Castleton family for years." (AP)
In a post on Instagram, the school announced, “Max the Cat has been an affectionate member of the Castleton family for years." (AP)

According to the Vermont State University's Castleton campus, the ceremony is scheduled to take place on Saturday and Max will be awarded an honorary doctorate degree for his friendly and welcoming behavior with campus students.

In a post on Instagram, the school announced, “Max the Cat has been an affectionate member of the Castleton family for years."

“While his adventures may have slowed, Max exemplifies the #CastletonWay and we are honored to have him as a member of VTSU's #firstclass.”

“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.”

Reacting to the post, one user wrote, “Dr.Max Congrats”, while another said: “This is the sweetest story I have ever seen on Instagram. congrats Dr Max!!”

Also Read: Officials investigate potential hate crime as 3 Palestinian college students shot in Vermont, suspect on the loose

Know about Max's owner and his campus life

The adored feline belongs to a family who lives on the street leading to campus's main entrance. Therefore, Max decided to visit campus and gradually started getting friendly with college students. He has been hanging out and socialising with them for nearly the last four years, owner Ashley Dow told AP.

Stressing that how excited students get on seeing Max, the owner highlighted that they all take selfies with him, pat him while he purrs, and even take him for campus tours.

"They pick him up and take selfies with him, and he even likes to go on tours with prospective students that meet at a building across from the family’s house," Dow said.

"I don't even know how he knows to go, but he does. And then he'll follow them on their tour," she added.

Max is having great time with Vermont students (AP )
Max is having great time with Vermont students (AP )

Dow recalled a time when Max stopped visiting to campus and quipped that the students had put up a shrine for him. “It had candles and everything. And the picture of Max that they had printed out and put in a frame.”

Doctor of Litter-ature (AP)
Doctor of Litter-ature (AP)

Dow is known as Max's mother among the students, and graduates who return to town occasionally inquire about Max's well-being.

While Max will not be attending the graduation, the degree will be later handed over to Dow.

  • Shweta Kukreti
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Shweta Kukreti

    Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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