WASHINGTON -- Hank the Cat once urged Virginians to "vote the humans out" -- and vote the cat into the U.S. Senate.

Hank's message got through. A week ago, the Maine coon -- running on a platform of good government and animal welfare --reportedly won nearly 7,000 write-in votes, placing third in a close contest to fill the Virginia seat being vacated by Jim Webb (D) and in the process selling enough campaign swag to donate some $16,000 to pet rescue groups.

What comes next after this unusual race? On Monday, a Chicago supporter filed an online petition with the White House asking that "President Obama make Hank the Cat an honorary member of the United States' Senate." Some observers thought Hank's petition had a shot of getting the 25,000 signatures it would need to be reviewed by the White House.
But late Tuesday afternoon, the petition was taken down, removed "because it is in violation of our Terms of Participation," according to a note on the White House's "We the People" website.

"Wait...there are petitions for states to peacefully SECEDE FROM THE USA that are allowed and THIS is pulled? Ugh," an unhappy supporter wrote on the Hank for Senate Facebook page.

Indeed, yes -- but there are other alternatives. Hank's owner and campaign manager Matthew O'Leary says that some fans are agitating for Hank to join Democratic operative Terry McAuliffe, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R) and White House party-crasher Tareq Salah (R) by jumping into the already crowded and colorful 2013 Virginia gubernatorial race.

We're "not sure about that," says O'Leary, noting concerns raised by Hank's other dad, and O'Leary's husband, Anthony Roberts. "One thing Anthony has said [is] that things can go on for too long and cheapen the whole experience. We don't want that to happen."

Along those lines, O'Leary says that, despite the interest in Hank's political future, not to mention the surprising uptick in the purchasing of Hank lawn signs, bumper stickers and other campaign merchandise after Election Day, "we'll be looking at an official closing of the campaign." (Stock up on Hank gear here; T-shirt sales will extend past the campaign's official close, but lawn signs and other goods will no longer be available.)

If life as a candidate and animal welfare advocate is ending, Hank should have at least a half-dozen more lives to pursue other adventures. He's even considering entering the private sector, though he hasn't yet settled on exactly what he'd do there.

"Hank is looking at all of his options," says O'Leary. "So many people donated their hard-earned money. He wants to be one of those people to donate money."

UPDATED, Thursday, 12:20 p.m.: In a heartfelt message on his campaign Facebook page, Hank the Cat has formally announced the end of his campaign, and that he would be taking a "break from politics."

"When I started this campaign, I was just a cat -- a wonderful, fluffy, cute cat, no doubt -- but today, I now belong to each and every one of you, and I will continue to be yours for all time," reads the message, which has already provoked dozens of fond responses.

Hank does not preclude reentering the political sphere -- in his message, he writes that perhaps someday, he " will return to the political arena once again. If and when that day arrives, you will certainly be the first to know, and I have no doubts that you will support me once again if the need arises."