What happened: Palmerston, the rescue cat who served as the Foreign Office's chief mouser, has died in Bermuda. He retired in 2020 after four years of service in Whitehall.
Why it matters:
- Palmerston was a well-known and beloved figure representing the Foreign Office in a unique way.
- His death marks the end of an era for the UK government’s tradition of employing cats for pest control and public engagement.
MNN Take: Palmerston's role combined practical pest control with public relations, reflecting a longstanding British tradition of official cats. His passing is noted by both government staff and the public who followed his story.
Sources: Guardian UK