Miao spent her first day as ‘mayor of the animals’ of Civita d’Antino, Abruzzo Region, southern Italy earlier this month.

Civita d’Antino deputy mayor Matteo Di Fabio swore the cat in by placing an Italian tricolore ribbon around her neck.

There are, however, questions on whether the appointment was rigged as the animal is reportedly the pet of Fabio’s daughter.

Miao is not the first cat ruler appointed in Italy.

Gravellona Lomellina in the Lombardy Region in northern Italy has had a feline mayor since 2005.