Cats on duty

Near the entrance of the Hermitage with its massive collection of artistic treasures were easels with paintings of cats. (photo was taken of a display outside)

“They are done by children,” my hostess explained. (photo above)

Cats have been on guard (against rodents) duty since Empress Elizabeth, daughter of Peter the Great in the mid 1700s ordered all cats 'better cats, the largest ones, able to catch mice, and accompanied by a person who will look after their health' be brought to a palace.

The precedence was established. Be the time of Catherine the Great (1762-96) cats had become a working part of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. Only from 1941-44, during the siege of Leningrad (St. Petersburg’s name at the time) when the needs of a starving population became priority was the palace catless.

Museum legend says that after the war, a hunt for suitable candidates was national. Whether or not it is true, isn’t important. Today around 50 “official” cat staff live in the Winter Palace. They are free to come and go, which means their ranks may swell or diminish. Sometimes when numbers are too high, homes are looked for.

New arrivals are vaccinated. Some are neutered to control population.

Hermitage cats are given a passport with its photo. If they “retire” to a home, they receive a certificate.

Their income is food to supplement reduced rodent meals. Three employees are on cat duty but all the staff participate. An annual Tomcat Day with cat games and competitions by visitors brings money into The Museum Cat Fund.

How much they appreciate being among some of the world’s greatest art work is unknown.