Deputy State Secretary Juri Ardiantoro officially confirmed that Bobby Kertanegara, President Prabowo Subianto's rescued short-hair cat, is entitled to state security protection as part of the president's property that requires government maintenance and protection.
The controversy erupted after viral footage from Cat Lovers Social Day 2025 in Jakarta on July 12 showed Bobby being escorted by multiple police officers while being pushed in a special pet stroller onto the event stage.
Bobby Kertanegara, who was rescued by Prabowo in 2017 from his Kertanegara residence in South Jakarta, has become Indonesia's unofficial "first cat" and now resides in the presidential palace with full state security detail.
The former General Elections Commission chairman Juri Ardiantoro defended the practice by comparing Bobby's status to other presidential properties like Prabowo's house, stating that the state has the responsibility to guard all presidential assets.
Public reaction has been divided, with social media users questioning the use of taxpayer money for cat protection, while government officials maintain that Bobby's security is justified under state property protection protocols established for presidential belongings.
