Cat Mandu
Encyclopedia
Cat Mandu was a ginger tabby cat
who served as the joint-leader of Britain
's Official Monster Raving Loony Party
(OMRLP) from 1999–2002, along with his owner, Howling Laud Hope
.
. Alan "Howling Laud" Hope (who was then the party's chairman and deputy leader) and Cat Mandu were the only two candidates in the party leadership election. The vote was a tie, with Hope and Cat Mandu receiving 125 votes each. Hope, as the party chairman, had the casting vote, and decided that he and Cat Mandu should serve as joint leaders. Cat Mandu served in this role until his death as a result of a traffic accident in July 2002. Hope then became the party's sole leader.
Following Cat Mandu's death, the party proposed that there should be cat-crossings at all major roads.
and guesthouse in Ashburton
, Devon) asked a music question which Hope couldn't answer; the customer commented: "I bet Catman do" (know the answer). Consequently he became "Catmando". The cat later moved with Hope to the Dog and Partridge public house in Yateley
, Hampshire. Ghurkas, stationed nearby at Aldershot
, were intrigued by a name that sounded like the Nepal
ese capital Katmandu; subsequently the cat became the subject of a front page feature in the Nepali Times
. The "Cat Mandu" spelling became common through media misinterpretation.
One of the OMRLP proposed laws is that no other cat shall be called "Cat Mandu" as there can only be one.
Tabby cat
A tabby is any cat that has a distinctive coat that features stripes, dots, lines or swirling patterns, usually together with an "M" mark on its forehead. Tabbies are sometimes erroneously assumed to be a cat breed. In fact, the tabby pattern is found in many breeds of cat, as well as among the...
who served as the joint-leader of Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Official Monster Raving Loony Party
Official Monster Raving Loony Party
The Official Monster Raving Loony Party is a registered political party established in the United Kingdom in 1983 by musician and politician David Sutch , better known as Screaming Lord Sutch.-History:...
(OMRLP) from 1999–2002, along with his owner, Howling Laud Hope
Howling Laud Hope
Alan "Howling Laud" Hope is the Leader of the United Kingdom's Official Monster Raving Loony Party . In 1999, following the death of the party's founder, Screaming Lord Sutch, Hope and his pet cat, Cat Mandu, were jointly elected as leaders of the OMRLP...
.
Political career
In 1999, the OMRLP had to select a new leader following the death of the party's founder, Screaming Lord SutchScreaming Lord Sutch
David Edward Sutch , also known as "Screaming Lord Sutch, 3rd Earl of Harrow", or simply "Screaming Lord Sutch", was a musician from the United Kingdom...
. Alan "Howling Laud" Hope (who was then the party's chairman and deputy leader) and Cat Mandu were the only two candidates in the party leadership election. The vote was a tie, with Hope and Cat Mandu receiving 125 votes each. Hope, as the party chairman, had the casting vote, and decided that he and Cat Mandu should serve as joint leaders. Cat Mandu served in this role until his death as a result of a traffic accident in July 2002. Hope then became the party's sole leader.
Following Cat Mandu's death, the party proposed that there should be cat-crossings at all major roads.
Name
Cat Mandu was originally called "Catman". His name was changed after a customer at the Golden Lion (Hope's pubPublic house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
and guesthouse in Ashburton
Ashburton, Devon
Ashburton is a small town on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon, adjacent to the A38 Devon Expressway.It was formerly important as a stannary town , and remains the largest town within the National Park, with a population of around 3,500...
, Devon) asked a music question which Hope couldn't answer; the customer commented: "I bet Catman do" (know the answer). Consequently he became "Catmando". The cat later moved with Hope to the Dog and Partridge public house in Yateley
Yateley
Yateley is a suburban town and civil parish in the English county of Hampshire. It lies in the north-eastern corner of Hart District Council. It includes the settlements of Frogmore and Darby Green. It had a population of 21,011 according to the 2001 census...
, Hampshire. Ghurkas, stationed nearby at Aldershot
Aldershot Garrison
Aldershot Garrison, also known as Aldershot Military Town, is a major garrison in South East England. Established in 1854, Aldershot has long been seen as the home of the British Army. The garrison was established when the war department brought a large area of land near to the village of...
, were intrigued by a name that sounded like the Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
ese capital Katmandu; subsequently the cat became the subject of a front page feature in the Nepali Times
Nepali Times
Nepali Times is a leading English-language weekly newspaper that provides in-depth reporting and expert commentaries on Nepali politics, business, culture, travel and society in 16 pages every week. It has a loyal readership among Nepalis who are leaders in their fields...
. The "Cat Mandu" spelling became common through media misinterpretation.
One of the OMRLP proposed laws is that no other cat shall be called "Cat Mandu" as there can only be one.
External links
- The 2001 Election in Pictures: Laud Hope and Cat Mandu The Guardian
- Official Monster Raving Loony Party Official Website
- Publican shares Loony leader's role with a cat The Independent
- Cat pushes for prime minister The Guardian
- Loonies choose cat as joint leader BBC News