The iron age of Monopoly is over.
Hasbro announced Wednesday that the classic home appliance game token will no longer pass "GO!" or collect $200. Instead, a cat will accompany the remaining game pieces when the latest edition of the board game hits shelves this summer.
The change is the result of Hasbro's online "Save Your Token" campaign on Monopoly's Facebook page, which has more than 10 million likes.
"We know that cat lovers around the world will be happy to welcome the new cat token into the Monopoly game," Eric Nyman, senior vice president and global brand leader for Hasbro Gaming, told USA Today. "While we're a bit sad to see the iron go, the cat token is a fantastic choice by the fans, and we have no doubt it will become just as iconic as the original tokens."
The campaign allowed fans from more than 120 countries to vote for a new token. A robot, diamond ring, helicopter, guitar and the winning cat were among the options.
Fans also chose which token to oust, and the iron lost to the remaining wheelbarrow, shoe, battleship, race car, top hat, thimble and Scottie dog.
The voting results proved that many Monopoly fans are animal lovers. The Scottie dog token received the most votes to stay, with about 31 percent. Its winning feline friend gathered about 29 percent of the possible votes.
Days before the end of the campaign, the wheelbarrow, shoe and iron were neck-and-neck for last place. The iron lost in the final moments, with only 8 percent of votes.
Staci Cockill, 21, activity leader at J.J. Finley Elementary School's extended-day enrichment program, said her students play board games, including Monopoly, after school every day.
Cockill said the traditional iron token doesn't resemble the modern appliance, and some of the young students don't know what it is.
"I know a lot of the little girls love cats," Cockill said. "They draw them on their papers all the time. It sounds like something they'd be more interested in playing with."