There were bodega cats, there were bookstore cats, and now: there are classroom cats.
Bubba, a chill feline in San Jose, California, lives with his owner Amber Marienthal and her family in a house near Leland High School and Bret Harte Middle School. Though Marienthal says that her family initially tried keeping Bubba as an indoor cat when they first adopted him in 2009, Bubba made it clear from his meowing and wailing that he was definitely an outdoor cat.
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As a result, Bubba spends pretty much all of his time outdoors, hanging out at Leland High School or Bret Harte Middle School. He's become quite well-known among the students at both campuses, as well as a sort of local celebrity.
Bubba is allowed to wander through the school hallways and hang out in classrooms, meowing whenever he wants to be let in or out.
Bubba isn't concerned about getting underfoot. Apparently he will even lay down on the soccer field during practice, waiting to be petted. "He's really social and he has no fear," Marienthal tells San Jose Mercury News. "I'm surprised he's still around."
Bubba usually returns home once school and sports practices are over for the day, although he had a bit of a scare when he was accidentally locked in a classroom for 36 hours. Luckily he "meows like a lion," and someone from security heard him.
Sometimes Bubba's yowling can get him in trouble, though. "One teacher made the mistake of buying treats for him," Marienthal tells Mercury News. "Bubba would [sit outside his classroom and] meow for treats."
Bubba is so popular that he even has his own Facebook page, with almost 3,000 fans. Marienthal says that the students have petitioned for a statue of Bubba to be erected on campus, but unfortunately their request was denied.
However, the students DID succeed in getting Bubba his very own student I.D. card:
Congrats, Bubba. Here's hoping you continue to make the most of your valuable education.