Yulia Galkina The Cats of the Hermitage

It's a well-documented fact that St Petersburg's Hermitage in Russia, one of the most famous art museums in the world, is home to a huge collection of pieces and... an army of cats These professional felines have been guarding the Hermitage's treasures against rodent predators since 1745. Empress Elizaveta, daughter of Peter the Great, signed a decree ordering that cats were to be found and brought to her court in Moscow - 'better cats, the largest ones, able to catch mice, and accompanied by a person who will look after their health'. According to the Hermitage's site, there are officially 50 cats residing in the museum today. Each cat has a 'passport' with its photograph. Those that retire and are rehomed receive a special Hermitage certificate, which gives them a certain distinction The feline colony receives no official income, but the human employees contribute each month towards upkeep and health expenses. Many doors in the six Hermitage buildings have small cat doors in them, so the residents can come and go as they please between the gardens - where in summer they are to found strolling or lounging among the priceless exhibits - and the basement, where there are the 'cat headquarters'. This is where food is prepared and their health is looked after, with a room devoted to looking after sick animals. This is the official bit from the museum's site... But we here at Clever Fox Press never let a good story go to waste. So have made a book 'The Cats of the Hermitage' and the first signed copies will be presented to the museum in February 2018 as a gift from our charitable publishing house. Brrr... Hope those wonderful guards of artistic treasures have good heating down in the basement during those famously cold Russian winters... This is a Russian edition of 'The Cats of the Hermitage' book.