Palmerston, the former "chief mouser" of the United Kingdom's Foreign Office, died in Bermuda.
The cat, adopted from an abandoned animal shelter, was "retired" in 2020, after four years of service.
In February 2025, it was announced on his social media profile that Palmerston had returned from retirement for a new overseas diplomatic mission, thousands of miles away, as "cat relations advisor to the new Governor of Bermuda."
It was announced on the social network X that this "exceptional cat diplomat" passed away peacefully on February 12th.
“Palmi was a special member of the Governor’s team in Bermuda and a much-loved member of the family.
"He was a wonderful, gentle friend, and will be greatly missed," the post said.
The black and white cat, named after Viscount Palmerston, a 19th-century prime minister and foreign secretary, joined the diplomatic service in 2016.
He moved out of the Foreign Office's central building in London during the Covid pandemic, and then officially retired in 2020.
In his retirement letter to Lord Simon Macdonald, then the most senior official in the Ministry, it was stated that Palmerston enjoyed climbing trees and patrolling the meadows around his new home and wanted to spend more time "relaxing, away from the public eye".
"I have found life beyond the front line to be relaxed, calmer and easier," the letter, signed Palmerston, read.
Palmerston's profile says that "diplomacy and the opportunity to purr" convinced him to come out of retirement.
He thus joined Bermuda Governor Andrew Murdoch, with whom he had lived since his retirement.
The news of his return to diplomacy was greeted with enthusiasm among Palmerston's 99.000 followers on social media.
Palmerston also said goodbye to Larry, the chief mouser at 10 Downing Street, who this year marks 15 years of service during which he worked for six prime ministers.
"Farewell dear friend," was posted on Larry's unofficial X profile.
There were rumors about the two cats that they didn't get along very well, and some of their arguments were recorded by the media.
Watch how a police officer helps Larry the cat
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