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Museum Cats 2

The Cats of the Hermitage

St Petersburg, Russia

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It's well documented that St Petersburg's Hermitage in Russia is home to a huge collection of pieces, including some of the world's greatest artistic treasures; but less well known is that an army of cats has been guarding those treasures from rodent predators since 1745. In that year the Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great and Empress of All Russia from 1741 until her death in 1761, signed a decree ordering that cats were to be found in the city of Kazan and brought to her court in Moscow — 'better cats, the largest ones, able to catch mice, and accompanied by a person who will look after their health'.

By the time of the reign of Catherine the Great (1762-96) there was a substantial number of 'Winter Palace' cats. They survived the storming of the building by the Bolsheviks in 1917, but the siege of Leningrad (as it was then called) in 1941-44, during the Second World War, meant that their descendants succumbed to the needs of the starving human population. Cats were reintroduced as soon as possible after the war; museum legend has it that a special train travelled nationwide to recruit suitable felines for service.

Nowadays the Hermitage cats number around 50 and are considered by the staff to be museum employees. The humans contribute each month towards the cats' upkeep and health expenses, and in addition the children of museum workers hold a benefit art exhibit yearly, with proceeds going to the Museum Cat Fund. A special mixture of cereals and milk is prepared by the kitchen [presumably their 'catches' provide the protein they need? — Ed.], and there is a room in the basement devoted to looking after sick animals. New arrivals are vaccinated and most are neutered to prevent undue proliferation, keeping just enough breeding animals to maintain the population.

The basement also provides the heated quarters where they spend much of their time in winter to avoid the bitter Russian weather outside, but in summer the cats are to be found strolling around the priceless exhibits in the grounds and gardens.

Photographs of Hermitage cats seem to be in short supply, but (above left) is one by Sergei Grachev of the St Petersburg Times. There is an interesting account of the body of museum volunteers, with a photo of some of them standing by a notice proclaiming 'Caution! Cats' — and including a cat, of course! Reader Tom Nelson has kindly sent us a photo of that sign (above right). As we can't offer much else in the way of Hermitage cat photos, we're including a few shots taken in the museum itself on an earlier visit by the author.

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Our featured feline at the head of the page is Socks, pictured in 2003 surveying his 'estate' in the early morning sunshine. Affectionately known as Soxy, he blossomed from a thin and hungry stray into a substantial and handsome cat who loved life and company, and his gentle ways endeared him to many friends. He is now no longer with us, but you can read more from his human companion here.

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