Just after lunch, Kay heard the loud voice barking orders at someone having difficulty keeping up: “You will clear this area. Guards must prevent people wandering through.” As she entered Kay’s office, Ms Nero frowned: “This place will have to be tidier when the minister visits.” At that moment, Palmerston strolled into the office, jumped onto Kay’s desk & started grooming. “Oh, no!” exclaimed Ms Nero, “we cannot have a CAT getting in the way. They shed hair everywhere.” Palmerston did not react, so Ms Nero shoo-ed him away, “Get OUT, you are not wanted.”

“We need a cat!” Simon said, staring at a hole in his carpet. Normally he made decisions about foreign policy but the Foreign Office mice could no longer be ignored. Kay, his assistant, looked doubtful: “We’ve never had a pet here. Who would look after him when we went home?” “Cats are independent,” Simon replied. “As long as a guard fed him, he’d be happy. We’ll call him Palmerston, after the longest-serving Foreign Secretary.” Kay had never recruited a mouser before. Although she didn’t know where to start, she couldn’t resist a challenge.

I am happy to announce that I will be returning to my Chief Mouser duties at the @foreignoffice this week! New guidance - the Palmerston Protocols - will govern my care in the FCO to make sure it’s working for me. (1/4) The Palmerston Protocols are:
(1) no-one other than my carers should feed me - especially no treats!
(2) everyone should respect my personal space and allow me to lead interactions.
(3) Palmerston HQ will house my bed, toys and food. I like privacy in Palmy HQ. (2/4)