Air Force promotes ‘Pizza Cat’ to ‘Senior Meowster Sergeant’
Attention to orders: The commander of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing has promoted the beloved feline assigned to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, widely known as “Pizza Cat” to serve in the next higher grade of Senior Meowster Sergeant.
The cat, who earned her moniker for regularly being spotted near the on-base Pizza Hut, has a very large fanbase on social media — so much so that military officials had to issue a memo last year debunking rumors that she had been ordered to be put down.
Also known as the “Queen of the Deid,” the cat has long raised morale at the sprawling U.S. military complex in the Middle East.
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News of Pizza Cat’s recent promotion was first shared on the unofficial Air Force subreddit, where the feline is bigger than Elvis.
U.S. Air Forces Central provided Task & Purpose with photos of the newly promoted E-8 along with her certificate of promotion.
“The U.S. Aire Furce has placed special trust and confidence in the patriotism, integrity, and abilities of Pizza Cat,” the certificate reads. “In view of these special qualities and her demonstrated ability to serve in the higher grade, she is promoted to the rank of Senior Meowster Sergeant in the U.S. Aire Furce, effective 1 June, 2026.”
The certificate was signed by Brig. Gen. Dan Clayton on his last day as commander of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing.
No information was immediately available on how or when Pizza Cat’s military career began, but a wing spokesman told Air & Space Forces Magazine last year that she had been promoted to Meowster Sergeant on May 16, 2022.
“She did have four years’ time in grade as a Meowster Sergeant,” Lt. Col. Frank Hartnett, a spokesperson for Air Forces Central, told Task & Purpose. “Perhaps in 2029, maybe she’ll compete for chief.”
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