TALKEETNA, Alaska, July 15 (UPI) -- A cat named Stubbs has been the mayor of a small Alaskan town for about 15 years, locals say.

Known locally as "Mayor Stubbs," the part-manx was named mayor of Talkeetna shortly after he was born, KTUU-TV, Anchorage, Alaska, reported.


As the story goes, about 15 years ago, some residents of Talkeetna were unhappy with the candidates who were running for mayor, so as a joke, they encouraged others to elect Stubbs the cat as a write-in candidate, and he actually won.

Since then, he has held the title of honorary mayor.

Stubbs mostly hangs out at Nagley's General Store, where thousands of tourists ask to see him every year, the report said.

"Oh my gosh, we probably have 30 to 40 people a day come in who are tourists wanting to see him," said Lauri Stec, who works at Nagley's.