Palmerston (cat) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Palmerston
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Palmerston in 2017
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| Chief Mouser to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office | |
| Held title 13 April 2016 – 7 August 2020 |
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| 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 special cat who used to be the official Chief Mouser for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). This is a big government department in Whitehall, London. He is a black-and-white cat. Palmerston started his important job on April 13, 2016.
Before joining the FCO, Palmerston lived at the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. He was named after a famous former Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston. He worked hard at the King Charles Street building.
Contents
Meet Palmerston, the FCO's Chief Mouser
The idea for a Chief Mouser at the FCO came from the role of the Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office. This job was held by Larry, another famous cat. Also, George Osborne's cat, Freya, often visited the office. These visits showed how useful a cat could be!
Starting a New Job
Palmerston quickly made headlines. On May 3, 2016, news spread that he had caught his very first mouse. This showed everyone he was ready for his important duties.
Life as a Working Cat
Being a Chief Mouser meant Palmerston was often in the public eye. He sometimes had playful run-ins with Larry, the Chief Mouser from Number 10.
Friendly Rivalries
On July 11, 2016, Palmerston and Larry were seen in a stand-off near Downing Street. Later that month, on July 26, Palmerston was even caught sneaking into Number 10 when the door was open! A police officer gently escorted him out. On August 1, 2016, a journalist saw Palmerston and Larry having a small scuffle. Palmerston got a minor scratch on his ear, and Larry lost his collar.
Global Cat Diplomacy
In October 2017, Palmerston "appointed" his own special helpers overseas. These were other cats who would work at British embassies around the world.
One of these cats was Lawrence of Abdoun. He was a rescued black-and-white street cat. Lawrence was given a job at the British Embassy in Amman, Jordan. He was named after a British military officer, T. E. Lawrence, and the area in Amman where the embassy is located. Another cat, Leyla Pixie, was an orphaned kitten from Turkey. She was adopted by the British Consulate General in Istanbul.
Retirement from Public Service
On August 7, 2020, Palmerston officially "retired" from his role as the FCO's Chief Mouser. He moved to the countryside to enjoy a more relaxed life away from the busy city. His "resignation" was announced on Twitter, letting everyone know he was ready for some quiet time.
See also
- Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office
- Gladstone (cat), Chief Mouser to HM Treasury since 2016
- List of individual cats
