In a move that would leave even the most seasoned academicians scratching their heads and reaching for a lint roller, Max, a 6-year-old tabby cat, has received an honorary doctorate in 'Litter-ature' from Vermont State University, making him the most educated feline this side of the cat flap. Not surprisingly, Max's first demand after achieving this illustrious title was an office with a window perch – preferably sunny and overlooking a garden full of birds (CNN, June 11, 2023; NY Post, June 11, 2023).

Max has been a fixture on Vermont State University’s Castleton campus, where he's known for his interaction with students and staff that ranges from affectionate head-butts to the occasional, albeit unintentional, claw to the face. He integrated into the campus community ever since his owner, Ashley Dow, gave him a taste of the great outdoors beyond her nearby home (CNN, June 11, 2023).

Maurice Ouimet, the dean of admissions and enrollment services, revealed that Max is often the first to greet him in the morning. "It's always a toss-up between a hello from Max or a 9 a.m. freshman asking how to drop a class," said Ouimet. Max also enjoys winter office stays, lounging on warm keyboards – adding ‘paperweight and thermal regulator’ to his résumé (NY Post, June 11, 2023).

The idea to award Max an honorary doctorate came from the university's social media manager, Rob Franklin. According to Franklin, what started as a lighthearted joke evolved into a ceremony acknowledging Max's vital role in providing emotional support during the hard times experienced by many on campus (CNN, June 11, 2023; NY Post, June 11, 2023).

Max has certainly been quite the crowd-pleaser, to the extent that he now even has his very own school email and directory page, monitored diligently by his owner and her daughter. Clearly, this cat’s inbox sees far less spam and way more fan mail than its counterparts (CNN, June 11, 2023).

Established in 2023 by merging Castleton University, Northern Vermont University, and Vermont Technical College, Vermont State University doesn’t even award actual doctorates to humans. This makes Max’s achievement all the more unique and perhaps a bit of a reality check for students who thought their degrees were demanding. Yes, Max just set the bar quite high – ironically, where he also enjoys perching (NY Post, June 11, 2023).

A campus legend, Max often features in student selfies and enjoys climbing onto students' backpacks. Imagine returning home to a purring pile of academic glory sprawled over your biology homework. Though he didn’t make an appearance at the graduation ceremony on May 18, his name was called, no doubt leading many to wonder if they should have dressed in cat fur instead of caps and gowns (CNN, June 11, 2023; NY Post, June 11, 2023).

While the university might want to keep a lid on their future honorary awards to maintain order among aspiring feline and canine scholars, one thing’s for sure: Max’s 'Doctor of Litter-ature' not only highlights his aversion to litter boxes but also his status as an uncontested big cat on campus. As he lounges on the window sill of his honorary office, Max remains unfazed, taking in the view and perhaps plotting his next accolade. Whatever that might be, we'll be waiting – lint rollers in hand.