The Light Side: Getting catty in Russia

MOSCOW (AP) — Russians who view President Dmitry Medvedev as Vladimir Putin’s lapdog flashed their claws over news reports that Medvedev’s cat had run away.

Medvedev, attending a summit in India, tweeted late Wednesday that the fluffy feline named Dorofei wasn’t missing after all. But by then it was too late to stem a deluge of catty remarks on Twitter, where the pet was a top Russian topic.

One user said Dorofei wanted to teach his master how to be independent. Another posted a doctored photo of Putin in a fur hat with cat’s ears and the caption: “Dorofei? No, haven’t seen him.”

Although Putin left the Kremlin in 2008 and shifted into the premier’s job, he has far overshadowed Medvedev. Putin recently won election to a new term as president and has promised to name Medvedev premier.