The former “mouse” of the British Foreign Office, Palmerston the cat, passed away peacefully on February 12. The death of this cat was announced on the official account of the furry diplomat on social network X.
“Palmerston, an excellent diplomat, passed away peacefully on February 12,” the cat's account said.
According to The Guardian, Palmerston died in Bermuda.
The cat was adopted from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and became the Foreign Office's rat in charge in 2016. After four years in Whitehall, he resigned in 2020. In February 2025, a notification appeared on his account that Palmerston had “retired” and started working as a “cat relations” advisor to the new governor of Bermuda.
During his retirement in 2020, the cat sent a letter to the UK's permanent undersecretary on his behalf, explaining that he wanted to spend more time out of the public eye after a period of working from home during the coronavirus pandemic. The address emphasized how life outside the “front line” has become calmer and more considered.
Palmerston has 105,000 followers on Twitter and said even “furry tetrapods” could play an important role in the UK's global effort. On his behalf, it was noted that he supports the department's work, strengthens relationships and emphasizes staff diversity.
Cats have long been part of British political tradition. Prime Minister Winston Churchill had a cat named Nelson, and Humphrey was head of rat-hunting under the governments of Margaret Thatcher, John Major and briefly Tony Blair.
The current head of Downing Street, Larry the Cat, will celebrate 15 years of service this weekend. He was also adopted from a Battersea orphanage and served under six prime ministers, becoming a symbol of continuity in British politics.
A cat previously abandoned in an apartment survived by eating leftover food and water from the toilet.
