First Catch For Foreign Office 'Chief Mouser'

Palmerston, the cat brought in to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as 'chief mouser', has succeeded in his role within his first month of office.

The black and white moggy was praised on Twitter by Sir Simon McDonald, permanent under-secretary to the Foreign Office, after catching his first mouse.

The fate of Palmerston's catch is not clear, but the cat seemed proud enough as he reclined on the FCO carpet after his success.

The cat was rescued from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and has been in office for less than a month.

He appears to be settling in well to the world of foreign diplomacy.

At the end of April, the new South Korean ambassador asked to be photographed with the FCO’s chief mouser and the Spanish ambassador also requested a meeting when he visited at the end of the month.

On joining Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service, Palmerston became colleagues with Larry the Cat, chief mouser to the Cabinet Office and No 10.