There was a small surprise in store for the crowd at the annual Spokane Washington Pride Parade this year. One renowned for his single brain cell bouncing around his orange body. But far from what you may imagine, this was in the form of Selkirk the cat. And his ‘purresence’ at the parade has gone viral for all the right reasons.
Selkirk Rides in the Parade
Going all the way back to 1992, the Pride Parade and Festival has been a staple in the community. Attendees spread love and acceptance through the rainbow lined streets. But this year, riding in the Spokane Fire Departments engine #6 was a welcomed surprise. And the subsequent viral video was a chance opportunity for famous TikTok cat @Selkirk_the_cat.
Photo by Sara Harrington
My wife is a firefighter. She was working a shift trade and ended up at the station that went to the parade. She asked if I wanted to join. I was worried about bringing Selkirk because he doesn’t love the sound of air brakes or big trucks. I nearly left him at home but he woke up from his new favourite napping place 5 minutes before I was due to be picked up. So I grabbed the cat bag, tossed his harness on him and the rest is history.
He had his bag inside the truck he could hang out in. If he was truely scared he would have climbed onto my shoulders or jumped out of my hands in the truck. This was just another day for him.
Selkirk_the_cat at 8 months old
Surprising the Attendees
And the crowd goes wild, rupturing in applause. It seems he was the highlight of the parade and what better to bring loving people together than a cat?! It’s what the internet was truly made for; cat videos. And we will watch this one more times that we care to admit. Enjoy!
