Palmerston, the island’s top cat, who clawed his way to fame in 2020 when he retired as chief mouser at the UK Foreign Office, has died.

The black-and-white rescue cat enjoyed a fandom of close to 100,000 followers on the social-media platform X.

Government House said Palmerston passed away yesterday, aged 13 years.

When Andrew Murdoch was appointed Governor in January 2025, he brought the beloved diplomatic feline out of retirement and to the island.

The cat, named after Lord Palmerston, the longest-serving British Foreign Secretary who put in two terms as prime minister in the 19th century, was adopted by Mr Murdoch after he stepped down as chief mouser at the Foreign Office in August 2020.

Mr Murdoch said: “Palmerston, or Palmy as we called him, came to live with me at the start of Covid.

“He thrived in a family home, surrounded by the countryside. He was very much the boss of the house and our main job was opening doors on demand and providing treats.

“While he loved the limelight, and always posed for photographs, behind the scenes he was wonderfully affectionate, incredibly gentle and enjoyed our company.

“He became a true member of the family and he will be remembered for his adventurous nature, loud purrs, heavy paw steps and love of a good brush of his neck fur.

“All the team at Government House got to know Palmy. He would tour the offices to check everyone was at their desks and spend time with everyone. He will be much missed.”

According to details provided to The Royal Gazette by Government House last year, Palmerston was “semi-retired”, serving as feline relations consultant in Mr Murdoch’s home, “attending only the meetings he deems important, offering advice when necessary and, of course, indulging in well earned naps”.

In March last year, he joined the Governor for a charitable cause at the launch of the annual Lions Club White Cane Tag Days, which raises funds for the visually impaired.

The cat captured national attention in Britain in 2020 when his retirement as chief mouser at the Foreign Office was picked up by the BBC and Fleet Street’s finest diarists.

Palmerston racked up an impressive haul under his former title since arriving in Whitehall in April 2016.

The Foreign Office revealed in March 2018 that Palmerston’s reported catches since January 1, 2017 added up to 38 mice dispatched — but “figures are likely to be much higher as these are only reported sightings”.

He was also known to spar with Larry, the resident cat at No 10 Downing Street.

Before joining Mr Murdoch’s household, Palmerston was cared for by volunteers and the permanent under-secretary’s office oversaw his upkeep.

His diet varied because his food was donated but he was said to be partial to Whiskas.

Palmerston’s handle on social media is a portmanteau of “diplomatic” and “moggie”, the British slang for cat, yielding “diplomog”, for readers keen to follow him on X in Bermuda.