Rescue cat renowned as chief mouser at UK's Foreign Office dies in Bermuda

"In February 2025, a post on a popular social media account in Palmerston's name said he had come out of retirement in order to start work as feline relations consultant (semi-retired) to the new Governor of Bermuda. Announcing his death, a post on Palmerston's X account read: Palmerston, Diplocat extraordinaire, passed away peacefully on 12 February. Palmy was a special member of the Government House team in Bermuda, and a much-loved family member, it added."

"On his retirement in 2020, a letter to Sir Simon McDonald, permanent under-secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, read that the cat would like to spend more time away from the limelight after enjoying working from home during the coronavirus pandemic. I have found life away from the frontline relaxed, quieter, and easier, the letter signed in Palmerston's name read."

"Cats have been a celebrated feature of British political life for decades. Winston Churchill had a cat named Nelson, and Humphrey was chief mouser to the Cabinet Office under Margaret Thatcher, John Major and briefly Tony Blair. Downing Street's current chief mouser, Larry, is celebrating 15 years in the job this weekend. Also adopted from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, he has served six prime ministers, and been claimed as a symbol of continuity in a roiling political era."

Palmerston, a rescue cat and former chief mouser of the Foreign Office, died peacefully in Bermuda on 12 February. He was adopted from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and retired in 2020 after four years in Whitehall. In February 2025 a post in Palmerston's name said he briefly returned to serve as a semi-retired feline relations consultant to the new Governor of Bermuda. A post on Palmerston's X account described him as a special member of the Government House team and a much-loved family member. A retirement letter said he enjoyed working from home during the coronavirus pandemic and preferred life away from the frontline. An unofficial X account paid tribute despite past tensions with Downing Street's cat Larry.

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