Melodi
Disaster Cat
The UK officially (and wisely I think) still uses rescue cats (usually from Battersea Cat and Dog Rescue) to patrol and help control pests in a number of their historic buildings. Palmerston's attention to his job and his mutual hatred of Larry the Number 10 cat has been followed for several years by their many fans on Twitter. To be a Downing Street or Foreign Office Cat, the Moggy in question has to not only catch mice but be relatively used to urban environments because they do go outside as part of their jobs (if it was up to me there would stay inside but I no one asks me lol).
I wish Palmerston well in his Country Side retirement (where most of these cats go after a few years) and look forward to meeting and seeing his replacement in the near future - maybe this time he or she will make friends with Larry? *grin*
Some soft new on this rather scary day...
www.dailymail.co.uk
Thanks fur the memories: Foreign Office's chief mouser Palmerston 'retires' after 'enjoying working from home' during lockdown
PUBLISHED: 12:00, 7 August 2020 | UPDATED: 12:05, 7 August 2020
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The Foreign Office's chief mouser, Palmerston, is heading for retirement after four years stalking the corridors of power.
The departmental cat, who has his own popular Twitter feed, is leaving to spend more time 'away from the limelight'.
A letter sent to the Foreign Office's top mandarin, Sir Simon McDonald - who is himself standing down from his job - said Palmerston had enjoyed 'working from home' in the countryside during lockdown.
'I have found life away from the front line relaxed, quieter, and easier,' the letter on the @DiploMog Twitter feed read.
Palmerston, a rescue cat from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, was brought to the Foreign Office in 2016, prompting a rivalry with Downing Street cat Larry.
'My 105,000 twitter followers show that even those with four legs and fur have an important part to play in the UK's global effort,' Palmerston's letter said.
+5
Palmerston, who has his own popular Twitter feed, is leaving to spend more time 'away from the limelight'
+5
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'I have championed our work, built our relationships, and celebrated the diversity of our staff.'
Palmerston will not be completely retreating from public life, however, with the letter stating that he will 'always be an ambassador for the UK and the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office'.
Sir McDonald replied to the letter on Twitter, stating that everyone at the Foreign office will 'miss him'.
'In 2016 Palmerston arrived from Battersea, mouser and social media phenomenon,' he said.
'After four-and-a-half happy years, he retires at end of August: he's enjoyed lockdown life in countryside so much, he's decided to stay.'
Foreign Office staff paid tribute to the outgoing mouser, with Jon Benjamin, director of the department's Diplomatic Academy, wishing him a 'very happy retirement'.
'He left us a slightly chewed dead mouse next to my desk in @UKDipAcademy once, and we were of course not very grateful,' he added.
Caron Rohsler, British high commissioner to the Maldives, tweeted a goodbye message from her embassy's own diplomatic feline, Miska.
It read: 'Congratulations on your exemplary service to British foreign affairs, & for fur-thering the cause of diversity in our noble institution. I'm sure an elevation to the pawrage cannot be far off.'
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I wish Palmerston well in his Country Side retirement (where most of these cats go after a few years) and look forward to meeting and seeing his replacement in the near future - maybe this time he or she will make friends with Larry? *grin*
Some soft new on this rather scary day...
Foreign Office's chief mouser Palmerston 'retires'
The departmental cat, who has his own popular Twitter feed, is leaving to spend more time 'away from the limelight'.
Thanks fur the memories: Foreign Office's chief mouser Palmerston 'retires' after 'enjoying working from home' during lockdown
- Palmerston has been the chief mouser at the Foreign Office for past four years
- Announced on his own @DiploMog Twitter feed that he has decided to retire
- Letter said he had enjoyed living in the country during lockdown and would stay
PUBLISHED: 12:00, 7 August 2020 | UPDATED: 12:05, 7 August 2020
18
View comments
The Foreign Office's chief mouser, Palmerston, is heading for retirement after four years stalking the corridors of power.
The departmental cat, who has his own popular Twitter feed, is leaving to spend more time 'away from the limelight'.
A letter sent to the Foreign Office's top mandarin, Sir Simon McDonald - who is himself standing down from his job - said Palmerston had enjoyed 'working from home' in the countryside during lockdown.
'I have found life away from the front line relaxed, quieter, and easier,' the letter on the @DiploMog Twitter feed read.
Palmerston, a rescue cat from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, was brought to the Foreign Office in 2016, prompting a rivalry with Downing Street cat Larry.
'My 105,000 twitter followers show that even those with four legs and fur have an important part to play in the UK's global effort,' Palmerston's letter said.
+5
Palmerston, who has his own popular Twitter feed, is leaving to spend more time 'away from the limelight'
+5
RELATED ARTICLES
-
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Share
'I have championed our work, built our relationships, and celebrated the diversity of our staff.'
Palmerston will not be completely retreating from public life, however, with the letter stating that he will 'always be an ambassador for the UK and the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office'.
Sir McDonald replied to the letter on Twitter, stating that everyone at the Foreign office will 'miss him'.
'In 2016 Palmerston arrived from Battersea, mouser and social media phenomenon,' he said.
'After four-and-a-half happy years, he retires at end of August: he's enjoyed lockdown life in countryside so much, he's decided to stay.'
Foreign Office staff paid tribute to the outgoing mouser, with Jon Benjamin, director of the department's Diplomatic Academy, wishing him a 'very happy retirement'.
'He left us a slightly chewed dead mouse next to my desk in @UKDipAcademy once, and we were of course not very grateful,' he added.
Caron Rohsler, British high commissioner to the Maldives, tweeted a goodbye message from her embassy's own diplomatic feline, Miska.
It read: 'Congratulations on your exemplary service to British foreign affairs, & for fur-thering the cause of diversity in our noble institution. I'm sure an elevation to the pawrage cannot be far off.'
+5
+5
+5
