'We have to make sure the cats are taken care of.'
More than a dozen feral cats who roam Mexico’s National Palace have been given a title from the President, which gives them food and care for the rest of their lives.
The 19 furry cats enjoy stalking pigeons and have even made cameos on press briefings – having access to every part of the palace.
Jesús Arias, the palace veterinarian, said: ‘They have access to every part of the palace, so they walk in on meetings, interviews and wander onto camera.’
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has now given them the title of ‘living fixed assets’ – the first animals in Mexico to receive the title.
The term has traditionally only applied to buildings and furniture, but by applying it to cats, the creatures will have food and care for the rest of their lives.
Adriana Castillo Román, general director of the National Palace and Cultural Heritage Conservancy, said: ‘The cats are now a symbol of the National Palace. Just as we understand this world, I wouldn’t understand the National Palace without the presence of these cats. We have to make sure the cats are taken care of.’
Some of the kitties in the palace today have unique names, including Bowie, Bellof, Nube, Coco, Yema, Ollin, and Balam. A few names are based on famous visitors – like Bowie – while others are rooted in the Aztec language.
One cat named Zeus, who has since passed away, became famous when he walked into the president’s morning press briefing.
He also had to go on a diet, because reporters kept feeding him treats throughout the day – making him ‘really fat’.
When asked about their brand new status as ‘fixed assets’, the cats ignored reporters – but Nube, a grey cat who enjoys greeting visitors at the door to the palace, had some choice words.
‘Meow,’ she replied.
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