Palmerston, the rescue cat of the U.K.’s Foreign Office, stalks past 10 Downing St. in front of the waiting media in central London on June 9, 2017.
Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images
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Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images
Retirement isn’t for everyone — just ask Palmerston the cat, who formerly served as chief mouser for the U.K.’s Foreign Commonwealth Office in London. After a few years enjoying a life of leisure, the diplo-cat — named after the country’s longest-serving foreign secretary — is back on the job, this time in Bermuda.
Three things to know:
- The former rescue joined the diplomatic service in 2016 and gained a large following online with his charming cat tales and for fulfilling his duty with charisma and a devoted work ethic.
- Since retiring in 2020, Palmerston has lived with his former coworker Andrew Murdoch and his family and shared the occasional online update on his leisurely country life.
- Murdoch, who was recently sworn in as the new governor of Bermuda, convinced Palmerston to leave retirement and join his administration as a feline relations consultant.
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Creatures at work
Palmerston isn’t the only British cat in a public-facing government role.
Larry the Cat is the Chief Mouser at No. 10 Downing St., the residence and home office of Britain’s prime minister.
The 18-year-old tabby — a fellow rescue — has served in his role through six prime ministers, for a total of nearly 14 years.
Tensions between the bureaucracy cats have at times boiled over publicly — the felines have a history of catfights, but were ultimately united by a shared sense of duty, service and love of a good spot of sunshine for lounging in.
