Hermitage cats

The Hermitage cats (Russian: Эрмитажные коты) are a group of cats residing in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The museum has a press secretary dedicated to the cats,^[1] and three people act as caretakers.^[2] The cats live in the museum's basement, and they also appear on the embankment and on the square during the summer. In previous eras, they roamed throughout the museum galleries.^[3]

In 2010, Maria Khaltunen (also "Khaltunin" or "Haltunen"), who directs the museum's cat programme, stated that there were 60 cats on the museum grounds, even though the staff has a joke that officially the museum is only supposed to have 50 cats.^[4] Irina Popovets, who became the head of the cat department, stated that the cats were "as well-known as our collections".^[5]

In May 2013, the count had grown to 74 cats, of both sexes (but neutered), according to Haltunen.^[2] There are kitchens for preparing their food ("they all have different preferences"), and even a small hospital.^[2]

As of 2013, donations (a €400-per-month payment from the charity Pro Animale, and the sponsorship of Royal Canin) fund the presence of the cats.^[2]

The cats have been present in the museum, originally a palace, since the 18th century;^[1] in 1745, Elizabeth of Russia ordered cats to be placed in the palace in order to control the mice.^[6] James Rodgers of the BBC stated that the belief is that the cats originated from Kazan, a city known for having cats good at catching mice. The cats remained in St. Petersburg except during World War II,^[1] when the existing cat population was killed. A new group of cats replaced the previous cats, since the rat population had increased.^[4]

In the late 1990s, Khaltunen began a programme to care for the cats, which previously lived in poor conditions.^[6] As of 2007, the museum began adopting cats needing homes.^[1]

In 2011, the museum began a "Catfest", a celebration of its cat population. Catfest has included cat painting contests and scavenger hunts for children.^[6]

Beginning in 2015, because of the number of visiting tourists, a website has been set up by the museum for people who may be interested in adopting a cat. "It is an honor to adopt a Hermitage cat", one potential cat owner was told.^[7]

Every spring, the State Hermitage Museum holds Hermitage Cat Day (until 2012, the event was called March Cat Day at the Hermitage).^[8] Since 2011, the celebration has been included in the museum’s official calendar of commemorative and festive dates. In addition to honoring the cats, the event introduces children to art. It is usually held in April or early May.^[9][10]

On this day, all the cats are brought out for the public so that visitors can see them, and the basements and attics where the cats live are opened to visitors. During the celebration, cat-themed exhibitions, games, quizzes, and competitions for children and adults are organized; paintings from the Hermitage collection by famous masters depicting cats, as well as works by contemporary artists, are also presented.^[11][12]

A fairy-tale legend is associated with the cats, according to which they are cared for by magical little people called hermits and hermitesses. They live in museums and old houses, and at night they play with the cats, keep track of them, and knit “magic scarves” from their fur. Museum staff and admirers call the cats ermiks.^{[13][12][14][15]}

The celebration was first held in 1998 and has been held regularly since 2005.^[16][17]

Other cats kept to deter mice in public buildings include:

• Canadian Parliamentary Cats
• Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, United Kingdom
• Tibs the Great kept by the Royal Mail in the UK.
• List of individual cats

• The Hermitage Museum and Maria Haltunen, The Hermitage Cats: Treasures from the State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg. Unicorn Press Limited, 5 July 2015. ISBN 1910065668, 9781910065662. Google Books profile.

• Hermitage Cats (in Russian)