Saint Petersburg, Russia
Hermitage Cats
Working cats that live in the basements of the State Hermitage Museum — a Saint Petersburg legend since the 18th century.
Before you go
- Hermitage Cat Day is usually in spring — dates vary; confirm on hermitagemuseum.org.
- Cats are not allowed in exhibition halls; do not expect to see them while touring the galleries.
- Museum hours and ticket rules change — always check the official site before visiting.
About Hermitage Cats
The State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg keeps a colony of working cats — often around fifty — in the Winter Palace basements. Their job is rodent control, a tradition that goes back to the 18th century, when Empress Elizabeth ordered mousing cats for the palace. Dedicated staff care for them; the cats are not allowed in the exhibition galleries. Visitors sometimes spot them outdoors around the embankment or square in warmer months, and once a year the museum holds Hermitage Cat Day (usually spring), when cellar tours and cat-themed events are organised. Treat any chance encounter as a bonus — the museum is first and foremost an art destination, and cat access is limited and schedule-dependent. Check the official Hermitage site for current events and visitor rules before you go.
How to get to Hermitage Cats
The main Hermitage complex sits on Palace Embankment beside Palace Square in central Saint Petersburg. The nearest metro is Admiralteyskaya; Nevsky Prospekt / Gostiny Dvor are also within walking distance for many visitors.
Buy museum tickets and check opening days on the official Hermitage website (typically closed Mondays). Cat cellar tours are not part of a normal gallery visit — look for Hermitage Cat Day or other announced programmes if seeing the cats is a priority. Outdoors, keep a respectful distance if you encounter cats near the palace grounds.
- Reach central Saint Petersburg and head to Palace Square / Palace Embankment.
- Use Admiralteyskaya metro, or walk from Nevsky Prospekt.
- Enter the museum via the official visitor entrance (check tickets and closed days first).
- For cats, rely on outdoor sightings or Hermitage Cat Day / announced cellar programmes — not the regular galleries.
More Colony spots
Cape Town Cats
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Nardstar’s bold cat murals on Long Street and at the V&A Waterfront, street cats in the colourful Bo-Kaap, and a calm CBD pause at Company’s Garden — Cape Town’s feline side is a city walk, not a single colony.
De Poezenboot (The Catboat)
Amsterdam, Netherlands
A floating cat sanctuary on a canal boat in Amsterdam, Netherlands — rescued cats live aboard De Poezenboot (The Catboat).
Dubrovnik Cats
Dubrovnik, Croatia
A UNESCO-walled Adriatic city where community cats — locals’ “oldest citizens” — nap on warm stone, ATM ledges, and harbour edges throughout the Old Town.
Gotanjoji Cat Temple
Echizen, Japan
A Soto Zen training temple in Echizen, Fukui, where rescued cats live alongside monks — known as “Neko-dera.”
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