Molly is one of three New Zealand Police cats facing off in a cuteness competition on Facebook. Photo/ Facebook
The New Zealand Police are stopping and questioning Kiwi citizens about a serious matter on Facebook today: which police station cat is the cutest?
"Who's the cutest? Molly, Toby, or Snickers #pawlicepatrol,"
on the organisation's official Facebook page reads.
Molly was just a kitten when she was dumped near the Manurewa police station in January last year, making herself at home before being adopted by a couple on the North Shore.
Toby was unwanted by previous owners and Snickers, who was a kitten in a police staff members' cat's litter, lives at the Whangaparaoa station.
Snickers found viral internet fame in April last year when a photo of him as a five-month-old kitten asleep in a police hat was posted on social media.
Today's post has been liked hundreds of times since it was posted just before midday and at the time of writing nearly 200 people had cast their votes in the highly unscientific but very cute poll.
Some commenters refused to pick a favourite, taking the easy way out and saying all three were adorable.
"All three are beautiful! I feel mean trying to pick just one," one woman wrote.
Another woman commented saying it was like picking a favourite child - too hard to do.
For those brave enough to take a stance, Toby appeared to take out an early lead with Molly coming in a close second, before a swathe of Snickers supporters chimed in to say he was the cutest furry friend.
Snickers' apparent work ethic, evidenced by the little police vest he can be seen wearing in his photo, led many to believe he deserved to win.
"I'm amazed by Snickers' cyber security skills," one person wrote, to which an administrator for the NZ Police Facebook page replied: "Oh yeah, he knows all about how to prevent cyber scams."
Other comments were more charitable about Molly and Toby's abilities, with one person saying all the cats seemed to be getting the job done.
"They are all working so hard, Molly protecting her fellow officer, Toby reading the riot act to all who will listen and Snickers booking them in! Gorgeous NZ Pawlice."
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