Is Malibu, an adoption cat with her own Instagram, really Mechelen's nicest cat?
The Flemish city of Mechelen ran a public search for its "leukste kat" — its nicest cat — and, according to VRT NWS, the title went to Malibu, an adoption cat who comes with a thoroughly modern credential: her own Instagram account.
In 30 seconds
- Mechelen, a city in the Belgian province of Antwerp (Flanders), ran a public contest to find its "leukste kat" — nicest cat.
- VRT NWS reports the winner is Malibu, an adoption (shelter) cat with her own Instagram account.
- Het Nieuwsblad reported that the winning cat would receive a surprise package (verrassingspakket).
- Residents were invited to nominate their own cats for the contest.
Mechelen is a city in the Belgian province of Antwerp, in Flanders, with a population of roughly 90,000. Its "leukste kat van Mechelen" initiative was a public contest inviting residents to nominate their cats, with a surprise prize package (verrassingspakket) for the winner. The winner, per VRT NWS, is Malibu, an adopted (shelter) cat with her own Instagram account. Animal welfare in Belgium is a competence of the regions, so shelter and adoption policy for Flanders sits with the Flemish government, not the federal level.
Background
Belgian municipalities have long used lighthearted public contests and civic rituals to foster local identity. In parallel, animal-welfare responsibilities were devolved to the regions in the 2014 sixth state reform, giving Flanders its own animal-welfare policy and making adoption promotion a regional and local affair. The newer element is the pet-influencer phenomenon, in which cats and dogs with curated Instagram accounts have become small public personalities — a trend municipal competitions now increasingly reflect.
What to do
Residents inclined to enter future editions should expect a popularity-vote format where a social-media presence helps; anyone considering a pet is gently steered toward adopting from a shelter.
Impact
Regional — A minor but genuine boost to Mechelen's community life and local profile, and soft promotion for cat adoption at a time when Flemish shelters routinely face seasonal overcrowding. The direct effect is limited to the city and its residents; it does not touch services, budgets or policy.
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- Publication date unavailable
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 8 Aug 2026
- Publication date unavailable
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 8 Aug 2026
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This story was assembled from verified evidence, with its sources and reasoning recorded as it was written.