Members of the international boardgame-playing community, not to mention fans of small symbols of domestic drudgery, have been left reeling by the news that the iron counter is to be permanently exiled from Monopoly and replaced with the tiny metal effigy of a cat.

The decision follows a month-long Facebook vote in which Monopoly enthusiasts were invited to cull one of the old-guard counters and replace it with one that better reflected "the interests of today's players".

After what must have been some particularly excruciating soul-searching, fans opted for the cat over the other contenders – a toy robot, a guitar, a helicopter and a diamond ring – and voted to reject the iron and keep the Scottie dog, the racing car, the top hat, the thimble, the shoe, the battleship and the wheelbarrow.

According to the game's maker, Hasbro, the cat attracted 31% of the total vote. Sadly, the iron, which has made its way around the board since the 1930s, finally ran out of steam, winning just 8% of the vote to the overwhelmingly popular Scottie dog's 29%.

The Monopoly iron, which is to be scrapped after making its way around the board since the 1930s. Photograph: Andrew Drysdale/Rex Features

"After a very close race, fans weren't hot for the iron," went the company's press release. "With only 8% of the vote, the iconic token fell behind the wheelbarrow and the boot and will be pressed out of service from the Monopoly game for good."

The iron will be phased out immediately and the first feline-countered games will arrive on shop shelves in the middle or latter part of this year.

"We know that cat lovers around the world will be happy to welcome the new cat token into the Monopoly game," said Eric Nyman, senior vice-president and global brand leader for Hasbro Gaming.

"While we're a bit sad to see the iron go, the cat token is a fantastic choice by the fans and we have no doubt it will become just as iconic as the original tokens."