This is Max, the cat who obtained a doctorate in psychology after living with university students for four years.
Photo: Facebook: Vermont State University
Max has been the type of student that all teachers want to have. He is friendly, participates in university activities, e.g. on tours around the campus and has even attended psychology conferences at Vermont State University, located in the United States.
The surprising thing is that it is a 5-year-old tabby cat, who has spent so much time at the institution, that he is also listed as part of the staff, since the facilities there are also his second home. For this reason, and the appreciation that people have for the cat, The university awarded him an honorary doctorate in “literature,” making him an official member of the Class of 2024.according to The Washington Post.
“In addition, the feline performs many functions,” Rob Franklin, a photographer at Vermont State University, told the American newspaper. “I was talking to a colleague outside the main campus building, when I noticed this cat wandering around and everyone was waving at him. They told me that he came to campus every day to socialize and then the students would take him home when it got dark,” he added.
Well, Max’s official home is located in front of the main entrance to the campus, where he lives with his tutor Ashley Dow and her family, even though he spends little time there. Dow let Max out when she was one year old and he was heading straight to school, but to make sure the feline was okay, the woman put a note on her back explaining that It was not a stray pet and could not be given much food.
“He usually comes home around 8 in the morning, when I go to work, and gets home in time for dinner, or one of the students comes and drops him off. Everyone loves to love him. You can see how the stress disappears on the students’ faces when they see Max running towards them so they can hug and caress him,” said the tutor.
So when Franklin proposed giving the cat the title of doctor, no one objected. The photographer, who also manages social media for Vermont State University, asked to have a diploma made with pet puns and then posted a photo showing Max wearing a miniature-sized mortarboard.
“With a resounding purr of approval from the faculty, the Vermont State Board of Trustees has awarded Max Dow the prestigious degree of Doctor of Literature, with all the benefits of catnip, the privileges of scratchers and litter, and responsibilities that it entails,” the diploma reads.
According to some students, told the Washington Post, This pet has become the emotional support of many, for being friendly. And his tutor trusts that the University is the safe place for his furry friend, because he brings joy to the students and they care about his well-being.
