Dogs may be known as man’s best friend, but cats also have a place in our hearts.
In fact Library of Congress reports that cats were first domesticated in the Stone Age and continued to be kept as companions, especially in Egypt, over time.
People all over the world have fallen in love with cats, royalty included. For example, Queen Elizabeth I of St. Petersberg Russia, is a fan of cats and has decided to give them a purpose.
When the palace space became overrun with rats, she ordered the cats to be brought in to take care of them.
Based on walkie talkie, the queen announced in 1745 that cats should be brought to the palace by trolley, along with their caregivers.
She ensures the cats will be well cared for and fed, showing her respect for the species.
While that was almost 300 years ago, descriptions of those cats still live on the palace grounds to this day. They are pampered, cared for and have 24-hour veterinary care when needed.
The cats are still doing the job of guarding the building of the rats. Talk to CNN, the official cat spokeswoman, Maria Haltunen, said, “If rats come near our cats – they will catch. They do their job very well.”
The cats brought by the queen were also joined by the feral cats of St.Petersburg. In 1991, when the Soviet Union collapsed, many people could no longer afford to take care of their cats. The Hermitage decided to open up access to the wild lands, and adopted a handful of impoverished cats.
If you visit the Hermitage Museum, it’s unlikely you’ll see cats among the exhibits. They are not allowed into that area of the building and spend most of their time in the tunnels below. Sometimes they’ll find their way out of the museum and find a spot to sunbathe, so the best places to look would be on the sidewalks and streets near the building.
Check out the video below to learn more about cats and their lives at the Hermitage Museum!
