Palmerston, Britain's esteemed Foreign Office "chief mouser," recently passed away in Bermuda. Adopted in 2016 during Brexit, he was lauded for exceptional rodent control, often surpassing human negotiators. The author views Palmerston as embodying felines' innate self-possession and strategic wisdom, akin to literary cats. His true gift was understanding strategic intervention: knowing when to act or observe. Retiring in 2020, Palmerston left fewer rodents and many mourning mandarins. His impactful presence reportedly kept humans in order, elevating his role beyond pest control to a beloved, astute diplomatic figure.