Mumbai's metro operator has appointed a ginger cat as its honorary Chief Feline Officer (CFO) at Gundavali Metro station. The humorous designation followed a commuter's playful request, acknowledging the cat's regular "patrols" of the station.
Mumbai Metro has a new office-bearer, and this one has four paws. A ginger cat that has become a familiar sight at Mumbai’s Gundavali Metro station on Line 7 (Red Line) has received an honorary designation after months of seemingly “patrolling” the station. The feline has now been named the Chief Feline Officer (CFO) by the Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Ltd (MMMOCL).
The amusing appointment followed a post by commuter Sandesh Samant, who photographed the cat and contacted MMMOCL with a playful request to give the station’s unpaid guardian an official designation. The metro operator decided to go along with the joke, giving the ginger cat a title that sounds remarkably corporate.
Check the viral post here:
According to the report, the cat can often be seen near the station entrance, apparently keeping an eye on the surroundings and commuters. Its calm demeanour has also made it a comforting presence for some passengers, particularly those passing through the station during tiring journeys.
An MMMOCL official confirmed that the title was created in jest but suggested that the feline appears to take its responsibilities seriously.
“Yes, we did it in jest, but it is always on the job,” the official said. The official also noted that cats, dogs and even monkeys sometimes seek shelter in the cool stairwells of the metro network.
The metro’s newest CFO does not permanently live at the station. Like other animals that wander into the network, the cat comes and goes. Its name and age are also unknown, but its regular presence has made it a recognisable part of the Gundavali station experience.
Interestingly, Mumbai’s feline officer now has some famous international counterparts. Larry, the tabby cat at 10 Downing Street, has served as Britain’s Chief Mouser since 2011, while Palmerston served as Chief Mouser at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office before retiring in 2020.
Although Mumbai’s ginger CFO may not have an office desk, identity card or fixed working hours, the viral story has given commuters a charming new reason to smile. With its regular “patrolling” duties and unbothered expression, the cat appears to have earned its honorary position—one paw at a time.
