Palmerston (cat) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Palmerston
Palmerston in 2017
Chief Mouser to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Held title 13 April 2016 – 7 August 2020
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	David Cameron Theresa May Boris Johnson
Foreign Secretary	Philip Hammond Boris Johnson Jeremy Hunt Dominic Raab
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Vacant
Personal details
Born	2014 (age 10–11)
Nationality	British
Residence	Foreign and Commonwealth Office (former)
Occupation	Mouser
Gender	Male

Palmerston is a famous cat who worked for the British government. He was the "Chief Mouser" at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) in Whitehall, London. His job was to catch mice in the building. Palmerston is a black and white cat. He started his important role on April 13, 2016.

Palmerston came from the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, which is a place that helps animals find homes. He was named after a former important government leader, Lord Palmerston. He worked in the King Charles Street building.

What is a Chief Mouser?

The idea for a Chief Mouser at the FCO came from another famous cat. This cat was Larry, the Chief Mouser at the Cabinet Office. Larry works at 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister's home. Another cat named Freya, who belonged to a politician, also visited the FCO often. These visits showed how useful a cat could be!

Palmerston's Adventures

Palmerston quickly became famous for his work. On May 3, 2016, news spread that he had caught his first mouse. He was very good at his job!

Palmerston also had some playful moments with Larry, the cat from Downing Street. On July 11, 2016, cameras caught them having a stand-off near Downing Street. Later, on July 26, 2016, Palmerston was seen sneaking into Number 10 Downing Street when the door was open. Police officers who live there had to gently escort him out. On August 1, 2016, a journalist saw Palmerston and Larry having a serious cat-fight. Palmerston got a small injury to his ear, and Larry lost his collar.

Overseas Envoys

In October 2017, Palmerston "appointed" his own special helpers overseas. These were other cats who worked at British embassies in different countries.

• Lawrence of Abdoun: This black and white cat was rescued from the streets. He got a job at the British Embassy in Amman, Jordan. He was named after a famous British officer, T. E. Lawrence, and the area in Amman where the embassy is.
• Leyla Pixie: This kitten was an orphan from Turkey. She was adopted by the British Consulate General in Istanbul.

Retirement and New Role

On August 7, 2020, Palmerston "retired" from his job as Chief Mouser. He moved to the countryside to relax away from the busy city life. His "resignation" was announced on Twitter.

However, Palmerston's retirement did not last forever! On February 3, 2025, it was reported that Palmerston had a new job. He became a "feline relations consultant" in Bermuda. He now lives with Andrew Murdoch, the new Governor of Bermuda, who has owned Palmerston since his retirement.

See also

• Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office
• Gladstone (cat), Chief Mouser to HM Treasury since 2016
• List of individual cats