Link to Faux Paw Web Site

June 9, 1999

A new staff member at the Governor's office is stealing the spotlight. Recently the Governor adopted a pet cat, and keeps him at the State Capitol.

Now he jokes that people who visit his office are more eager to meet the cat than to discuss affairs of the state.

News Specialist Pamela Davis introduces us to "Faux Paw."

The orange tabby cat lives a life of luxury in the Governor's office at the State Capitol.

Governor Leavitt says, "He acts as though he runs the place."

The Leavitt family has a pet dog, and the Governor always wanted to bring home a cat.

"I've not been able to muster a lot of enthusiasm about that, so I proposed it at the office, where I've got more say," he says.

The Governor also exercised his "say," in choosing the cat's name, Faux Paw. "Faux" is French for fake.

Faux Paw doesn't exactly have a fake paw, but he does have an extra couple of toes. The Governor adopted him from a rescue shelter, where he was about to be euthanized.

"He was rescued, kind of, from the brink of uncertainty and brought to become what is now Utah's top cat. It's kind of the American dream."

Now Faux Paw enjoys all kinds of kitty perks, like toys, a special carrying case with the state seal, and... "Well, I'm his nanny," says Mary Lou Bozich of the Governor's Justice Commission.

The "nanny" takes Faux Paw home with her at night so he can play with her two cats.

And do they have big political discussions? "Well, they're all Republi-cats, so it's pretty one-sided," says Mary Lou.

In his spare time, Faux Paw answers e-mail. He has his own web site, so he gets a lot of email. Some from kids, some from adults, all of it from cat-lovers. Here's one that says, "Dear Faux Paw: You have brought great delight into a cat lover's life. I am a democrat. Does this mean you will not reply?"

Faux Paw is an equal-opportunity e-mail answerer, but be patient when waiting for replies. During those hectic days at the Governor's office, this cat has a lot of ground to cover.