President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s government has declared the cats roaming the National Palace as “living fixed assets” for as long as the felines live.
MEXICO CITY — They prowl through palace gardens stalking pigeons and make cameo appearances on televised press briefings. Some warmly greet tourists at the doors, while others stealthily sneak a lick of ice cream from staff.
Nineteen feral cats enjoy free rein of Mexico’s National Palace, leisurely roaming the lush gardens and historic colonial halls of one of the country’s most iconic buildings.
“They have access to every part of the palace, so they walk in on meetings, interviews, and even wander onto camera,” said Jesús Arias, the palace veterinarian, as a handful of feline companions gracefully brush against his ankles.
Now, the palace cats have made history after the government of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador declared them to be “living fixed assets” — the first animals in Mexico to receive such a designation.
The term “fixed assets” typically applies to buildings and furniture. However, by extending it to include cats, López Obrador’s government has mandated the country’s Treasury to provide them with food and care for the remainder of their lives, even after the leader leaves office in October.
“The cats are now a symbol of the National Palace. Just as we understand this world, I wouldn’t comprehend the National Palace without the presence of these cats,” stated Adriana Castillo Román, general director of the National Palace and Cultural Heritage Conservancy. “We have to ensure the cats are well taken care of.”
Located in the heart of Mexico City, the presidential palace has historically served as the seat of Mexico’s executive branch. Now the residence of López Obrador, it stands upon the former palace of Indigenous Emperor Moctezuma. Ironically, Moctezuma’s ancient Aztec culture revered not cats, but hairless dogs known as Xoloitzcuintle, who were even buried with their owners. Yet nowadays, López Obrador shares the palace with Bowie, Bellof, Nube, Coco, Yema, Ollin, Balam, and more, who seem to have found a purr-fect home within its walls. López Obrador himself has jokingly mentioned that the cats “rule” the palace and often lead the way during official ceremonies.
Some of the cats bear names inspired by artists, such as an orange tabby named “Bowie” after the legendary musician David Bowie, who visited the palace in 1997 to view the famous mural by Mexican painter Diego Rivera. Others are named after local rocks or words from the region’s ancient Aztec dialect, like Ollin, meaning “movement.”
Staff recall feral cats roaming among the cacti and dense foliage of the gardens as far back as 50 years ago. However, it remains unclear when they first appeared or how they gained entry into the building. While 19 reside in the palace full time, many more come and go, with staff suspecting they slip through a small crack in the palace gate under the cover of night.
One cat, named Zeus, achieved brief fame in July when he sauntered into the president’s morning press briefing. The gray feline stood before cameras and mingled among reporters until palace staff had to intervene.
To prevent a cat-astrophe, Castillo mentioned that the government had to request reporters to refrain from feeding Zeus because he was becoming overweight from accepting treats from various people around the palace.
When López Obrador assumed office in 2018, Castillo revealed that palace pets were quietly fed by employees.
“Some employees who are fond of cats would bring them leftovers from home and, occasionally, canned food or rice and soup,” Castillo explained.
Palace staff collaborated with veterinarians from the National Autonomous University of Mexico to vaccinate, sterilize, and microchip the cats. They also constructed small shelters and feeding stations around the garden. Arias was hired to ensure the cats receive continuous care and a good quality of life.
Neither Bowie, Coco, nor Ollin offered comment when questioned about their status as “living fixed assets.” Coco flicked his tail, while Ollin stretched out beneath a palace pillar and drifted off to sleep.
“Meow,” responded Nube, a gray cat named after the Spanish word for “cloud,” who enjoys welcoming visitors at the palace entrance.