Museum officially hires cat after adorable prank backfires

His name is Maray and he gets paid in fishy treats and snuggles. 

In 2014 Maray started hanging around the Serpukhov Museum of History and Art in Serpukhov, Russia.

Serpukhov Historical and Art Museum

He was eventually taken in by staff and named after Anna Maraeva, the cat-loving ex-owner of the museum’s building. For the last couple of years he’s acted as an unofficial greeter, welcoming visitors into the museum.

Serpukhov Historical and Art Museum

Last month, the staff at the museum though it’d be funny to use Maray as a joke for April Fools’ day. They wrote his job application letter and sent a press release to local media saying they had accepted his application.

Serpukhov Historical and Art Museum

"Application. As I am a direct relative of [Anna] Maraeva, I ask you to give me a job in ​ your museum. Maray The Cat."

Unfortunately, the media took the press release seriously and began contacting the museum for information about the employed cat.

Serpukhov Historical and Art Museum

So staff decided to make the appointment real, and declared him their official doorman. According to museum employee Nina Strelkova, Maray works from 9 to 5 each day with a break for lunch and a springtime walk. He even has a tent to sleep in at night.

Serpukhov Historical and Art Museum

“All people who work in our museum love Maray. Many bring him food from home and take pictures with him. So he gets a little fat now,” she said. “And visitors love the cat too — lots of them taking selfies with him.”

Serpukhov Historical and Art Museum

Maray takes his job very seriously. 

Serpukhov Historical and Art Museum

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via Buzzfeed