Feline stamps are the cat’s meow

AN POST yesterday broke with tradition and issued the first postage stamps to feature cats.

Award-winning political cartoonist Martyn Turner was hired to design comic modern day caricatures of feline pets.

The 55c and 78c stamps feature the artist’s impressions of a Kilkenny Cat, a Celtic Tigress, a Fat Cat and a pair of Cool Cats.

“An Post has issued stamps with butterflies, ducks and beetles in the past but cats are a new departure,” said a spokesperson.

“The stamps in the new Celtic Cats collection are illustrated in a comic style and are slightly irreverent reflections of familiar aspects of contemporary Irish society.”

The semi-state company has been keen to boost its profile in recent years by launching innovative stamp designs.

It issues dozens every year to commemorate landmarks like the 400th anniversary the Flight of the Earls.

An Post said busy urban lifestyles have boosted the popularity of the cat over other pets.

“These stamps are sure to be bestsellers as highly prized collectors’ items and An Post expects strong interest from cat lovers,” the company said.

Mr Turner once won the Bronze Bee of Satire for European Political Cartoonist of the Year in Italy and the trophy was scanned for explosive substances at Stansted Airport on his way home.