An anonymous French philanthropist has bequeathed a sum of money to a clowder of cats that live in the basement of a famous Russian museum, according to CNN.
About 50 cats live in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, where they’ve mostly had free reign of the place since the time of Empress Elizabeth, who reigned from 1741 to 1761.
Catherine the Great, the founder of the Hermitage, gave the cats the status of guardians of the art galleries, and they continue to keep rodents away from the museum’s three million works of art.
Now, they are taken care of by volunteers and museum staff, and supported by donations.
They even have their own washing machine and veterinarian, according to the museum.
“Our French friend did a very good thing; this is brilliant PR for both the cats and charity. The sum is not very big but it’s very important when the person writes a will, when the French lawyers contact (us) and it’s all not a simple (process) but this is all very interesting, isn’t it?,” said Hermitage Museum general director Mikhail Piotrovsky.
The funds will likely be used to repair the museum’s basements, where the cats live, Piotrovsky said.
“I think the cats will express their will — our colleagues are well-versed in communicating with them and understanding their language,” he added.
It’s not the first time the cats have lapped up the love this year. More than 800 people submitted pictures and photographs of the cats for the museum’s Day of the Hermitage Cat.