Foreign Office employs cat to tackle vermin problem

New Home: Palmerston was rescued from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
Hannah Al-Othman13 April 2016

The Foreign Office's newest employee has started work today... but the new Chief Mouser is no ordinary civil servant.

The black and white cat, who has come from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, has been brought in to tackle a vermin problem in the famous Whitehall building, in King Charles Street.

The two-year-old shorthair was brought to the home after he was found roaming the streets of the capital.

The cat has been named Palmerston, after two-time British prime minister Henry John Temple, who was the 3rd Viscount Palmerston and served as leader in the mid-19th century.

Dipolmats worked closely with staff from the rescue centre to select the right cat - and it will be FCO staff who will be footing the bill for his keep.

Chief Mouser: Palmerston started work today (Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire )
Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said: "Palmerston is HM Diplomatic Service's newest arrival and in the role of FCO chief mouser will assist our pest controllers in keeping down the number of mice in our King Charles Street building.

"Palmerston's domestic posting will have zero cost to the public purse, as a staff kitty will be used to pay for him and all aspects of his welfare.

"We have worked closely with Battersea Dogs and Cats Home on Palmerston's deployment and they have inspected his new home, as they do for all potential new owners of their rescue cats."

Battersea's Head of Catteries, Lindsey Quinlan told Newsbeat: "He's a very confident cat, loves being with people, and enjoys a good chin rub."

Vermin seen around London

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Palmerston is not the first ministerial cat - a moggy called Larry moved into the prime minster's home, Number 10 Downing Street, in 2011.

Like Palmerston, he was rescue cat from Battersea Cats and Dogs Home and was brought in to tackle a mouse problem.

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