He has received millions of visitors at the country’s most influential political venue and even put his name forward as a possible prime minister.
Cole Taurozzi is the last surviving cat from Capitol Hill’s once beloved cat colony.
Cole has brought joy to Capitol Hill for years with his jet black fur and bright green eyes, and now his owners are hoping people will come forward to help him.
Danny Taurozzi, who adopted Cole after the shelter closed in 2013, GoFundMe campaign To cover the increasing medical costs for a cat with aggressive salivary gland cancer.
“Cole is charismatic and has a kind heart,” Taurozzi said. “He’s a special kid.”
The famous cat, who lives in the Houses of Parliament, underwent surgery this spring to remove a malignant tumor behind his left ear.
Although Cole is now cancer-free, he also battles arthritis and kidney disease and requires regular treatment.
Taurozzi has pet insurance, but medical expenses still cost thousands of dollars.
“We must continue to support the last survivors.”
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, who has a soft spot for the House of Commons’ cats, said Tauozzi’s efforts to save Cole were heartwarming.
“This is the only coal phase-out plan that I do not support,” May said.
“We should continue to support this last surviving example of a Capitol building staple.”
Now a senior 16-year-old cat, Cole is just as inquisitive and affectionate as when Taurozzi first met him.
Cole was abandoned as a kitten and grew up for four years at the Capitol cat shelter, where he was cared for and fed by volunteers, including Taurozzi.
“It gave us a lot of purpose,” said Brian Caines, who coordinated the sanctuary’s efforts in its final years.
“It’s certainly part of the legend of this city and it’s part of the legend of the Capitol,” Cains said.
Ms Caines began looking after cats in the Hill District during her spare time as a civil servant in the 1990s and continued to do so after she retired.
He still fondly remembers Cole, the colony’s youngest son, who always showed up when called upon.
The lawmakers practiced their speeches and made frequent visits to cat shelters.
When the House of Representatives was first established, cats were brought in to catch mice, but by the 1950s their hunting skills were no longer needed.
Volunteers began caring for the rats that had been forced into the wild, giving them names, and building a small village on the slope behind Centre Block to protect them.
At its peak, the shelter was home to more than 30 stray cats and munched away on nearly $7,000 a year in cat food, paid for by donations rather than the federal government.
Politicians from all walks of life visited the cats, some of whom even chatted with them before their Q&A sessions, Taurozzi said.
“Because it makes sense,” he said.
In preparation for the construction of The Hill, a spay/neuter campaign had decimated the cat population, so volunteers decided to take them all in. That’s when Taurozzi stepped in.
“He looked as if he wanted to live at home forever,” he said. “He was just a friendly little guy.”
I hope I can live a little longer
Laureen Harper, wife of former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper, adopted dozens of cats from the Ottawa Humane Society when she lived at 24 Sussex Drive.
She told CBC News that while she’s sad that this is the last cat on Parliament Hill, she’s glad there are no more stray cats living in the shadows of Centre Block.
“Spare and neutering feral animals helps reduce their populations over time, which is a good thing overall,” Harper said.
Canadian Heritage said that to this day, Hill’s guides still get questions about the cat.
The stray cat shelter on Capitol Hill is closing as they search for homes for the last of its cats.
Taurozzi kept fans updated on social media and campaigned for Cole during the 2015 federal election.
“There are other cats in the running for prime minister, but Kohl is the only one with parliamentary experience,” Taurozzi said.
“He was not partisan. He was fully supportive of the coalition government.”
When Cole finally departs for cat heaven, it will be the end of an era.
In the meantime, Taurozzi plans to give his best friend the best life he can.
“This is what I chose to do,” Tauozzi said. “It’s rewarding. Coal is my partner.”
