Monopoly fans vote to add cat token, toss out iron

Cat lovers rejoice.  The board game Monopoly has decided to add a feline game token after fans voted in an online contest to replace the iron in the property trading game, toy maker Hasbro Inc, announced Wednesday morning. The results were announced after the shoe, wheelbarrow and iron battled in a a down-to-the-wire elimination in the final hours of voting that had fans of each piece urging others to save their favorite tokens. The voting closed on the Monopoly Facebook page just before midnight on Tuesday. It marked the first time in the 80-year-old game's history fans had a voice in determining which token to add and which one of the classic game pieces to toss. Other pieces that didn't make the cut included a robot, diamond ring, helicopter and guitar.  The kitty will now join the iconic racecar, shoe, thimble, top hat, wheelbarrow and battleship later this year. Fans from over 120 countries voted and some even wondered if the cat would clash with the old Scottie dog.  We'll find out Feb. 15 when Hasbro will release an exclusive version of the game which will include all of the old tokens and the new candidates as well. Some businesses even chimed in with some ideas of their own. The Jolly Time Pop Corn Co. suggested a popcorn token and the Zappos shoe retailer pushed hard to save the shoe, said Jonathan Berkowitz, vice president for Hasbro gaming marketing. "Our fans are very passionate about their tokens," he said. The toy company will cease production of the iron immediately.