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Think Think and Ah Tsai

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Think Think and Ah Tsai
Think Think
Ah Tsai
Other namesXiangxiang, Cookie; Acai
SpeciesHouse cats
BreedTabby
SexFemale; Male
BornTaiwan
Notable roleCompanionship, election support
Known forPresidential cats
OwnerTsai Ing-wen
ResidenceOfficial Residence of the President (2016–2024)

Think Think (Chinese: 想想; pinyin: Xiǎngxiǎng) and Ah Tsai (阿才; Ācái) are two cats belonging to the former president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen. Think Think is a female gray tabby, while Ah Tsai is a male ginger tabby.[1][2] During Tsai’s presidency the cats became well-known public figures through social-media posts and election campaigning. Tsai later also adopted several dogs.

Origins

[edit]

Think Think was adopted by Tsai in 2012,[2] after being brought to her as a homeless kitten by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Hsiao Bi-khim. Hsiao had found the kitten on a muddy road by a railway station near Hualien after Typhoon Saola.[3] Tsai named the kitten after "Thinking Taiwan" (Chinese: 想想論壇), an education foundation she was working on at the time.[4]

Ah Tsai (meaning 'talent') was a farm cat and a gift from a friend during Tsai's presidential campaign.[1] The cat was found near a pineapple field in Taitung County in eastern Taiwan.[5]

Prior to her election as president, Tsai lived in a modest apartment with the two cats.[6] Think Think was originally skinny, covered in mud and suffering from skin diseases but soon recovered under Tsai's care.[7] Tsai has said that the cats generally get along well with each other but do fight occasionally.[8]

Public profile and media

[edit]

During her presidency Tsai regularly posted social-media updates featuring the cats, which proved popular.[9] During the COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan, one post discouraged April Fools’ Day pranks involving false rumours about the pandemic, Tsai appeared with one of the cats and wrote that humour was fine “but we can’t make jokes about the pandemic, to avoid breaking the law.”[10] When baseball resumed after partial lifting of lockdown restrictions, she posted a photo of herself watching a game at home with one of the cats.[11] Images of the cats also appeared in the post-pandemic tourism hashtag #ThisAttackComeFromTaiwan alongside Taiwanese landscapes and bubble tea.[12]

In 2019 Tsai posted pictures of Ah Tsai watching the Animal Channel and featured both cats in a Valentine’s Day message.[5][13] Ahead of the 2020 election she urged supporters to ignore “fake news” about the cats’ health, stating they were fine.[14] In July 2020 she visited the Hsinchu Animal Protection Education Park and encouraged citizens to adopt stray animals rather than buy pets.[15]

Tsai being presented with a picture of herself and her two cats.

Shortly after Tsai’s 2016 election a Xinhua article by PLA officer Wang Weixing criticised her as a single woman and therefore “emotional” and “erratic,” the piece provoked an outcry over sexism and was quickly withdrawn.[16][17][18] Taiwanese activist magazine New Bloom described her as “an unorthodox politician… a female academic who loves cats and supports gay rights”.[19] Gideon Rachman of the Financial Times noted that Tsai was one of two recent “cat-lovers” to rise to power (the other being Poland’s Jarosław Kaczyński).[20]

In June 2016, while in Miami, Tsai met Taiwanese pitcher Wei-Yin Chen, who gave her feeding bowls for the two cats (and for the three dogs she was about to adopt).[21]

Election campaigns

[edit]

2015–2016

[edit]

Think Think and Ah Tsai featured prominently in Tsai’s 2015–2016 presidential campaign,[22] in which the press sometimes called her “Cat Woman”.[23] Cat-related Facebook posts received far more engagement than policy posts (likes up to 50 percent higher).[22] A World Animal Day post of Ah Tsai receiving a vaccination attracted nearly 30,000 likes.[22] The campaign produced the animated film Cat in a Paper Carton – Think Think, the cats also appeared in the policy book Light up Taiwan.[22]

Young supporters especially liked the cats.[24] A 2015 Chinese New Year video showed a grey tabby struggling in Tsai’s arms.[23] Campaign material transformed Tsai and the cats into anime characters speaking Taiwanese Hokkien rather than Mandarin.[25][26]

Davina Tham of the Taipei Times argued that Tsai personified Taiwanese attitudes toward women in power, citing the 2016 comic Presidential Slave to Cats (by “Stupid Sheep”) and Wei Tsung-cheng’s Conqueror of the Seas.[27] After the election victory, Chunghwa Post issued a special stamp featuring people of diverse backgrounds together with a dog and a cat, it was the first Taiwanese stamp not to show the national flag.[28][29]

Tsai visiting the Hsinchu Animal Protection Education Park in July 2020

2020

[edit]

The re-election campaign again used both cat and dog imagery, including videos of Tsai with the two cats and three dogs.[30][31] Taiwan News called one of the cats the “purrfect” running mate, supporters wore “slave to cats” T-shirts, and a campaign store offered selfies with the dogs.[32][33][34]

Tsai appeared in pink cat ears in a DPP rally advertisement shared by Freddy Lim.[35] Other material included a Taiwan-shaped pillow and a hot-sauce pun on her “Hot Taiwanese Girl” nickname.[34][36] The Chinese Communist Party mocked a cosplay “magic girls” avatar she posted, but observers such as the ABC’s Bill Birtles noted that the “cute” style coexisted with a harder political edge, the New Daily called her Taiwan’s “Iron Cat Lady”.[37][38]

Other candidates also used animal or anime imagery (e.g., Han Kuo-yu with his Shiba Inu, Lii Wen with mussel-wing props). Digital Minister Audrey Tang described the trend as a “coming out” of digital subcultures.[34][39] After Tsai’s re-election the Hong Kong Cat Society congratulated her, calling the victory “a win for cats”.[40]

Feline culture in Taiwan

[edit]

Cats are popular pets in Taiwan and their numbers have risen rapidly in recent years.[41] The world’s first cat café, “Cat Flower Garden”, opened in Taipei in 1998, by 2016 a dedicated “Cathy Hotel” also existed.[41][42] The Taiwanese cat-café concept later spread to Japan and elsewhere.[43] The former mining town of Houtong is known as a “cat village” that attracts tourists with its large population of free-roaming cats.[44]

Other presidential pets

[edit]
Tsai introducing the dogs to children at the Yongyou Residence Children's Club in 2017.

After her 2016 inauguration Tsai announced she would adopt three retired guide dogs once she moved into the official residence.[45] Asked about possible conflict with the cats, she replied that the dogs “are very well trained and they can definitely get along with the cats”.[45] Some commentators drew political parallels: Alex Lo in the South China Morning Post suggested the adoption was a positive sign for cross-strait relations, portraying Taiwanese as “cat people” and mainland Chinese as “dog people”.[46] The Straits Times dismissed speculation of a “civil war” between the cats and dogs.[47]

Tsai adopted the dogs (Bella, Bunny and Maru) in October 2016 at a ceremony organised by the Huikuang Guide Dog Foundation, where she pledged to improve accessibility for visually impaired people and their guide dogs.[48] She described Bella as her favourite, Bunny as “elegant” and Maru as “timid”.[49] Bella died in September 2023 and Maru in August 2024.[50] Tsai later adopted two further dogs, Lele and Pineapple.[51]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 "Taiwan's cat-loving president to adopt retired guide dogs". Bangkok Post. 26 May 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Tsai Ing-wen sworn in as Taiwan's 1st female president". Nikkei Asian Review. 20 May 2016. Archived from the original on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  3. ↑ 游婉琪 (2016-01-20). "一場颱風 讓蔡想想走進小英心裡" [A Typhoon Brought Think Think to Tsai Ing-wen's Heart]. UDN.com. Archived from the original on 2016-01-24. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
  4. ↑ "新任第一家庭寵物「蔡想想」 紅過貓奴總統蔡英文" [New First Pet "Think Think" Stole the Spotlight from President Tsai Ing-wen]. Ming Pao. 2016-01-18. Archived from the original on 2016-01-22. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
  5. 1 2 姜庚宇 (2019-02-14). "【情人節】蔡英文「曬」愛貓照 與貓共度：只要有愛就是好日子". HK01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Archived from the original on 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  6. ↑ Ryall, Julian; Spencer, Richard (1 January 2016). "China sends warning to Taiwan as it prepares to elect first woman president". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 30 August 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  7. ↑ 风采 (2020-03-17). "《平民女总统蔡英文》2：怀胎得女 她是蔡想想的妈". Archived from the original on 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  8. ↑ 中時電子報 (15 October 2019). "鄭宏輝搶攻寵物票 蔡英文力挺到底 - 政治". 中時電子報 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  9. ↑ 《中國密報》編輯部 (2016-06-02). 《中國密報》第46期: 江澤民導演習李鬥？ (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 中國密報雜誌社. ISBN 978-1-68182-163-4. Archived from the original on 2023-10-14. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
  10. ↑ Submission, Internal (2020-04-01). "Pandemic pranks off the table on April Fools' Day". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  11. ↑ hermes (2020-04-14). "Taiwan first up to the plate". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 2020-07-11. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  12. ↑ Aspinwall, Nick. "Tsai Rejects Accusations Taiwan Attacked WHO Chief, Invites Him to Visit". thediplomat.com. Archived from the original on 2020-07-09. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  13. ↑ 三立新聞網 (2019-02-07). "「蔡阿才」看電視遭蔡英文偷拍！不科學身材引網友熱議 | 政治 | 三立新聞網 SETN.COM". www.setn.com (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  14. ↑ "蔡英文秀貓活蹦亂跳 稱不要在網路造謠". www.ctwant.com (in Chinese). 13 October 2019. Archived from the original on 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  15. ↑ "參訪新竹市動保園區 總統呼籲國人「以認養代替購買」 讓無家可歸的毛小孩重新開始新的生活". www.president.gov.tw (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2020-07-24. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  16. ↑ Hernández, Javier C.; May, Vanessa Piao (25 May 2016). "Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan's First Female Leader, Is Assailed in China for Being 'Emotional'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 17 January 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  17. ↑ "Sexist remarks on Tsai Ing-wen spark outrage in China, Taiwan". The Straits Times. 26 May 2016. Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  18. ↑ WITW Staff (20 May 2016). "Taiwan president accused of being "extremist" and "erratic" because she is single". Women in the World. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  19. ↑ Hioe, Brian (18 January 2016). "Is the Narrative About Taiwan Changing After Tsai Ing-Wen's Presidential Victory?". New Bloom. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  20. ↑ Rachman, Gideon (1 June 2016). "Rise of the cat leaders". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  21. ↑ Liao, Tony; Yeh, Sophia; Hsu, Elizabeth (26 June 2016). "U.S. representative welcomes Tsai in Miami, voices support for Taiwan". Focus Taiwan. Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 27 June 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  22. 1 2 3 4 Yeh, S.P.; Lin, Lillian (11 October 2015). "Campaign focuses on Tsai Ing-wen's pets". Focus Taiwan. Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  23. 1 2 Gan, Nectar (18 January 2016). "Cat Woman: Taiwan's first female president huge fan of felines". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  24. ↑ Hui Min, Chew (20 May 2016). "Taiwan's first woman president: 10 things you should know about Tsai Ing-wen". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 16 June 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  25. ↑ McGee, Oona (19 January 2016). "Taiwan's president-elect Tsai Ing-wen appears as cute moe anime girl in awesome campaign videos". RocketNews24. Archived from the original on 26 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  26. ↑ "Hello Kitty, goodbye panda". The Economist. 16 July 2016. Archived from the original on 15 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  27. ↑ "Boom, zap, pow: Tsai Ing-wen saves the day - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. 2019-02-14. Archived from the original on 2020-07-26. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
  28. ↑ 中華郵政 (2016-01-13). "中華郵政全球資訊網". 中華郵政. Archived from the original on 2020-07-08. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  29. ↑ "New Stamps Celebrating Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen". Tricky Taipei. 2016-04-22. Archived from the original on 2020-07-08. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  30. ↑ "Taiwan's president sweeps to reelection, setting the stage for chilly relations with China". Los Angeles Times. 2020-01-11. Archived from the original on 2020-07-08. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  31. ↑ "Taiwan's Tsai Ing-wen Seeks Re-Election in the Last Truly Free Place in the Chinese-Speaking World". Time. Archived from the original on 2020-07-09. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  32. ↑ "Photo of the Day: Taiwan president's purrfect running mate". Taiwan News. 18 November 2019. Archived from the original on 2020-04-08. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  33. ↑ Anna Fifield (2020-01-08) [2020-01-07]. "As Taiwan goes to the polls, Tsai says the choice is democracy or dictatorship". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2020-06-03. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  34. 1 2 3 Hioe, Brian (2020-01-08). "Aesthetics and Politics in 2020 Elections". New Bloom Magazine. Archived from the original on 2020-06-08. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  35. ↑ "Photo of the Day: Cat ears, cosplay, death metal featured in Taiwan campaign ad". Taiwan News. 10 January 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-01-11. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  36. ↑ Staff, T. N. L. (2019-12-25). "Taiwan 2020: How These Politicians Got Their Funny Nicknames". The News Lens International Edition. Archived from the original on 2020-02-12. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  37. ↑ "Her cat shares her campaign poster but Taiwan's President is anything but soft". www.abc.net.au. 2020-01-10. Archived from the original on 2020-04-16. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  38. ↑ "Taiwan's Iron Cat Lady Tsai Ing-wen leads poll results for presidency". The New Daily. 2020-01-10. Archived from the original on 2020-07-26. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  39. ↑ "The civic hacker that became Digital Minister of Taiwan: interview with Audrey Tang". Digital Future Society. 2020-04-13. Archived from the original on 2020-09-04. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  40. ↑ "【最強貓奴】貓界狂賀蔡英文成功連任 「請台灣第一貓繼續統治台灣」". Apple Daily 蘋果日報 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Archived from the original on 2020-07-26. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
  41. 1 2 "Taiwan's love affair with cats purrs ahead". Taiwan Today. 16 February 2016. Archived from the original on 29 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  42. ↑ Galloway, Lindsey (3 April 2012). "Travel: Feline fun in Japan's cat cafes". BBC Worldwide. Archived from the original on 4 March 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  43. ↑ Lemmin-Woolfrey, Ulrike (16 June 2014). "Cat-ching! Cat cafes take over world". CNN.com. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  44. ↑ "Taiwan's 'cat village' on CNN list of attractions". The China Post. 9 November 2013. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  45. 1 2 "Taiwan's cat-loving President Tsai Ing-wen to adopt 3 retired guide dogs". The Straits Times. 26 May 2016. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  46. ↑ Lo, Alex (27 May 2016). "A tale of cats, dogs and cross-strait relations". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  47. ↑ "Taiwan's cat-loving President to adopt dogs too". The Straits Times. 26 May 2016. Archived from the original on 28 May 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  48. ↑ "President Tsai adopts three retired guide dogs 蔡英文總統 收養三隻退役導盲犬". Taipei Times. 2017-01-14. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
  49. ↑ "獨／蔡英文形容3愛犬：Maru最膽小、Bella最愛吃、Bunny最優雅 | ETtoday新聞雲". www.ettoday.net (in Traditional Chinese). 7 February 2019. Archived from the original on 2020-10-04. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  50. ↑ "Ex-President Tsai Ing-wen mourns the loss of her dog Maru". TVBS. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  51. ↑ "Soon-to-retire therapy dog Oba charms ex-President Tsai Ing-wen". FTV News. 5 March 2025. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
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