The Hermitage Museum’s Cats
The Hermitage Museum is a must-see if you are in Russia. We hope, however, that you are not allergic to cats. There are now 70 cats living at the museum. They spend their time there as guard cats, defending the artwork from any rodents who might want to munch on the priceless antiques. Cats have lived in the Hermitage since the 1700s, when Empress Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great, who also built St. Petersburg, advised bringing them in to protect the safety of the exhibits.
