Zeus the hairless cat that aimed to make feline fashion history. Zeus, a Sphynx, aimed to gain a prestigious spot in the Guinness World Records by virtue of the whopping number of outfits he owns. Yes, that’s right, this proudly hairless cat not only dresses in a different outfit every day for health reasons, but he also wants to break a record that’s unusual for a cat.
Caitlyn Anderle is the human collaborating with Zeus in his record-breaking goals. She’s a pilot for JetBlue Airways and lives in Berea, Ohio. She took time out from jetting around the country to talk about the origins of Zeus’ clothing collection, the duo’s combined success at Oktoberfest celebrations, and Zeus’ own jet-setting tendencies. Dress warm and read on.
How did Zeus come into your life?
I got Zeus when he was six months old. He belonged to a flight attendant friend who was allergic to him — it turns out that some people can still be allergic to a cat’s saliva even though in Zeus’ case he is quite hairless.
Describe Zeus; how would you sum up his day-to-day personality?
Zeus is pretty much a dog. He rings a bell when he is hungry, and he scratches at the door when he wants to go for his usual mile-long walk. Best of all, he loves his car rides and sticking his head out of the window to get fresh air.
Zeus is known for his many outfits. When did you start dressing him up?
Zeus has been getting baths and being dressed in clothes since he was a small kitten. He actually requires two baths per week because he sweats just like a human. He is four degrees warmer than other cats, so he eats double the amount of food of a normal cat and must also always be clothed so he does not get pneumonia. Some winter days he wears four layers including a t-shirt, a sweater, a fleece, and a parka.
How many outfits did Zeus have at last count?
He currently has more than 500 items in his closet, including shirts, tanks, jackets, holiday attire, and costumes. I’ve applied to get him recognized in the Guinness World Records.
What happened? Did Guinness think Zeus was worthy?
It was to great disappointment that, after 12 weeks of analyzing Zeus’ wardrobe collection, [Guinness officials] told me to contact them again when his collection becomes larger. I’m not sure how much more clothes I could even find for him — but I truly believe he is the best-dressed cat in the world, and I am doing all that I can to get him published in the book.
There are pictures of you and Zeus (and your other cat) dressed up in Oktoberfest outfits. What’s the story behind that?
When I won Miss Oktoberfest Cleveland 2016. I submitted a picture of Zeus and I to enter the competition, and I think he really helped me snatch the crown — the judges loved the photo of Zeus sporting his German lederhosen.
As a pilot, have you ever taken Zeus on a flight with you?
Zeus has been jump-seating with me to work flying from Cleveland to New York City. He was a big hit through security. Anywhere I go, Zeus brings smiles to people’s faces. I’d say that my favorite costume of Zeus is his identical matching pilot costume just like mine. I feel so lucky to have such an awesome cat who spreads joy and laughter to so many people.
Check out more of Zeus’s wardrobe over at Instagram and Facebook.
