Paddles (2016 – 7 November 2017) was a ginger and white polydactyl cat,[1] owned by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her partner Clarke Gayford. Paddles was a rescue cat, adopted by Ardern from a branch of the SPCA. She became a celebrity as the "First Cat" after Ardern took office, and a Twitter account was established in her name.