Meet Jinx the cat mayor, the first-ever pet to preside over Hell, Michigan

Jinx the cat mayor sitting on her cat tree
(Image credit: @bigfootjinx/Instagram)

It was a life-changing day on Sunday as Jinx the cat mayor became the first ever feline to take command of  the town of Hell in Michigan.

With her big eyes and wonky feet, Jinx has long been a social media darling, amassing just over 1.1 million followers across her TikTok and Instagram platforms where her unique looks have won hearts around the world.

Rescued by her owner, Mia, back in 2018 when she discovered the three-week-old kitty meowing in her backyard, it was clear from early on that there was something special about Jinx.

"She had big eyes and as she grew bigger, her eyes didn't get smaller and I also noticed she had big feet. She doesn't have a condition and the vet says she's healthy. She just has these birth defects. She's also not as agile as most cats and is a little clumsy. She only learned how to land on her feet a year ago," Mia explains.

But while Jinx’s sweet personality has seen her grow a steady fan base over the years, it’s her most recent antics that have really catapulted her into the limelight. 

After making a comment on social media in which she joked that Jinx might one day run for president, Mia was surprised to get a reply in which one fan suggested that the little black cat might want to consider applying to be the temporary mayor of Hell, Michigan.

The town allows both humans and animals to become mayor for a day for the small fee of $100. According to their website, a full-day term as mayor includes “horns, T-shirt, mug, badge, wallet card, property ownership in Hell along with dirt from Hell, proclamation certificates for being Mayor and for being impeached, your name all over Hell, and, of course, Mayoral duties!” 

And on Sunday, that’s exactly what Jinx did, becoming Hell’s first-ever pet mayor. “Mayor of hell, Michigan today, mayor of our hearts forever,” Mia said in a post shared on Instagram.

Sworn in by Reverend Vonn of Hell, Jinx’s day as mayor was a huge success, but sadly, like all good things, it eventually had to come to an end. 

"We love our in-person and distant mayors," said Reverend Vonn "They get to have one Helluva fun day and at the end of it, will receive the dreaded phone call to be impeached." 

If you’re keen for your furry friend to become the mayor of Hell for a day, you can fill out this form to apply or call 734-878-2233.

Kathryn Williams
Freelance writer

Kathryn is a freelance writer who has been a member of the PetsRadar family since it launched in 2020. Highly experienced in her field, she's driven by a desire to provide pet parents with accurate, timely, and informative content that enables them to provide their fur friends with everything they need to thrive. Kathryn works closely with vets and trainers to ensure all articles offer the most up-to-date information across a range of pet-related fields, from insights into health and behavior issues to tips on products and training. When she’s not busy crafting the perfect sentence for her features, buying guides and news pieces, she can be found hanging out with her family (which includes one super sassy cat), drinking copious amounts of Jasmine tea and reading all the books.