Nineteen feral cats have made themselves at home within Mexico’s National Palace, roaming its lush gardens and historic halls with impunity, becoming fixtures in one of the country’s most iconic buildings.
Designated as “living fixed assets” by the government of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, these cats have secured a unique status, obligating the Treasury to provide for their care and sustenance for life, even beyond López Obrador’s tenure, which ends in October.
Jesús Arias, the palace veterinarian, attests to their omnipresence, noting how they casually join meetings, interviews, and even appear on camera, embodying a distinct presence within the palace’s milieu.
Adriana Castillo Román, the general director of the National Palace and Cultural Heritage Conservancy, underscores the symbolic importance of these feline inhabitants, asserting that they’ve become integral to the identity of the palace itself, deserving of proper care and attention.
Situated in the heart of Mexico City, the palace, once the abode of Indigenous Emperor Moctezuma, now hosts López Obrador and his feline companions. Despite the historical reverence for hairless dogs in Moctezuma’s era, today’s palace is ruled by cats like Bowie, Bellof, and Nube, each with their own unique backstory and name, reflecting either cultural or artistic references.
While the origins of these felines within the palace remain shrouded in mystery, their presence has been documented for decades, with staff recalling their existence amid the palace’s cacti and dense foliage.
Zeus, a notable feline figure who has since passed away, achieved a brief moment of fame when he interrupted one of the president’s press briefings, charming both reporters and viewers alike before being gently escorted away.
To ensure the well-being of these furry denizens, efforts have been made to vaccinate, sterilize, and chip them, while also providing comfortable accommodations and feeding stations within the palace gardens. The appointment of Jesús Arias as their caretaker further underscores the government’s commitment to their welfare.
Despite their newfound designation as “living fixed assets,” the cats themselves remain silent on the matter, content to lounge around the palace grounds, occasionally gracing visitors with their presence, a silent yet palpable presence within Mexico’s most esteemed corridors of power.
