On October 20th, Prabowo Subianto was inaugurated as Indonesia’s new president, and along with his official duties, his beloved cat, Bobby, also moved into the presidential palace. This has sparked considerable conversation among the public. Bobby, who gained immense popularity on social media during the election campaign, has shifted Prabowo’s image from a traditional military leader to a more relatable figure, resonating with the hearts of many Indonesians.
Since making headlines, Bobby has attracted numerous Indonesian celebrities eager to snap photos with him. Notable figures such as Mulan Jameela, a member of the Great Indonesia Movement Party, and business tycoon Anindya Bakrie have shared their encounters with Bobby on their platforms.
After Prabowo’s inauguration, he brought Bobby to the Presidential Palace, known as the Merdeka Palace. Bobby, a stray cat adopted by Prabowo in 2017 from South Jakarta, has certainly made a name for himself, boasting over 650,000 followers on Instagram.
Just a day after Prabowo took office, Bobby’s Instagram account shared a video featuring the president gently stroking him in a stroller, asking, “Want to see your new room?” The video quickly went viral, racking up over 7.15 million views and more than 330,000 likes. The stroller that Bobby was in also sparked discussions online.
Bobby is one of four cats owned by Prabowo; the others are named Mika, Miki, and Miko. Bobby’s rise to fame can be traced back to 2019 when Prabowo was seen feeding him during a meeting of the Great Indonesia Movement Party, igniting discussions and interest online.
Throughout the presidential election process this past February, Bobby once again became a focal point in the media. Prabowo frequently shared photos of himself with Bobby, solidifying the image of himself as a cat-loving leader in the public’s mind.
