A cat found wandering the streets, who was nursed back to health at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, has moved into his new home in the Foreign Office.

Palmerston, a two-year-old domestic short hair, was underweight and hungry when he was found last year.

As he had no microchip, his owners were never found.

Wandsworth Times:

Now, a life of greeting international diplomats, catching mice,Ā and befriending Larry, the number 10 cat awaits him.Ā 

Palmerston has been named after theĀ former Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, Henry John Temple, thirdĀ Viscount Palmerston, who served in government for 46 years and was popular thanks to his assertive foreign policy.

Batterseaā€™s head of catteries, Lindsey Quinlan said: "Palmerston will have no problems making friends and foes in the Foreign Office. Heā€™s a very confident cat, loves being with people, and enjoys a good chin rub.

"But nothing escapes the attention of this Battersea moggy and we know heā€™ll have an eagle eye out for unwanted visitors, whiskers twitching and ready to pounce at the right moment, to keep his new home free of rodent interlopers.

"If his behaviour at Battersea is anything to go by, we predict Palmerston will be a formidable feline, very deserving of his new name."

When Palmerston is not in the Foreign Office, he will be in the office of Sir Simon McDonald, Permanent Under-Secretary of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Sir McDonaldĀ said: "I am delighted to welcome Palmerston to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.Ā In his role as FCO Chief Mouser, he will assist our pest controllers in keeping down the number of mice in our King Charles Street building.Ā 

"I hope that Palmerstonā€™s impact will be as considerable as his namesakeā€™s."

Palmerston can be followed on Twitter @DiploMog.Ā