Traditional household chores lost out to self-satisfied domestic pets on Wednesday as it was announced the Monopoly iron token is to be relegated to history and replaced with a cat.
The age-old symbol of steam-heated domestic orderliness is to be replaced by the fur-balling feline with a polygamous attitude to owners and a propensity to decimate British wildlife.
Maker Hasbro said the cat received 31% of an international public Facebook vote, trumping the robot, guitar, helicopter and diamond ring.
So long, iron
The iron took just 8% of the vote after it was neck and neck for elimination with the wheelbarrow and boot, meaning production of the token will cease.
The latest changes mark the first time that fans have had a say on which token to add and which to replace.
Hasbro said people from more than 120 countries voted in the contest, which was sparked by chatter on Facebook where the game has more than 10 million
The US firm will begin to replace the iron with the cat token on production lines immediately, with the updated game expected in stores later this year.
The young upstart
Hasbro senior vice president Eric Nyman said: "We know that cat lovers around the world will be happy to welcome the new cat token into the Monopoly game.
"While we're a bit sad to see the iron go, the cat token is a fantastic choice by the fans and we have no doubt it will become just as iconic as the original tokens."
The other tokens remain the race car, Scottie dog, thimble, top hat and battleship.
