In the classic Monopoly board game, the cat token replaced the iron token in 2013.
Hasbro retired the iron token after a public vote and introduced the cat as its replacement. The change was part of a broader effort to refresh the familiar token lineup while preserving the recognizable identity of the game.
The iron had been one of the traditional playing pieces in classic Monopoly editions. Other long-associated tokens have included the battleship, boot, thimble, top hat, and Scottie dog, although token lineups can vary by edition and country.
Token changes are a common source of edition confusion. A current or special-edition Monopoly set may contain pieces that were not present in older sets, so the cat’s appearance does not mean it was part of the earliest standard editions.