On October 20, Prabowo Subianto was inaugurated as Indonesia’s new president, and his beloved cat, Bobby, moved into the presidential palace alongside him, sparking widespread discussion. Bobby, a stray cat adopted by Prabowo in 2017 in South Jakarta, has gained significant popularity on social media, amassing over 650,000 followers on Instagram. During the recent election, Bobby became a media sensation, offering a stark contrast to Prabowo’s past image as a military strongman.

Bobby’s fame has captured the attention of many Indonesian celebrities. Notable figures like Mulan Jameela, a member of the Great Indonesia Movement Party, and business mogul Anindya Bakrie have eagerly shared photos with Bobby on their social media accounts.

Prabowo, who comes from a military background, took office on October 20 and moved into the presidential palace, known as the “Independence Palace,” with Bobby in tow. The day after the inauguration, Bobby’s Instagram account featured a video showing Prabowo gently petting Bobby while asking, “Want to see your new room?” This charming moment has since garnered over 7.15 million views and more than 330,000 likes.

A pet stroller Bobby was seen in also drew attention, reported CNBC Indonesia, revealing it retails for 6.2 million Indonesian rupiah (approximately $396). Bobby is one of several pets owned by Prabowo, who also has three other cats named Mika, Miki, and Miko. Bobby’s rise to fame began in 2019 when Prabowo was photographed feeding him at a party meeting, which sparked online conversations.

During the presidential election earlier this year, Bobby again became a focal point for the media as Prabowo frequently shared photos with him, further solidifying the connection between the president and his furry companion.