It is with great sadness that we have to report that Boulton, the resident museum cat, passed away peacefully today, aged 19. 

 

Boulton, as many regular visitors to the museum will know, was born at Kew on 26th February 1988, shortly before the museum was due to open to the public. His mother, herself a stray who had adopted us a few weeks earlier, soon disappeared leaving her kittens with us. Most were found homes with volunteers and members, but Lesley Bossine, at the time Museum Manager, decided to keep the runt of the litter, who by then had been named Boulton, after our 1820 Boulton & Watt engine, as the resident museum cat.

 

During his 19 years at the museum, Boulton had seen many changes, but throughout that time he had earned his keep appearing in various cat magazines and even in T.V. programs and films being shot at the museum. His fame was international, in some cases outstripping the museum itself in recognition.

 

Boulton has been buried at the museum, and a plaque will be made to commemorate his life and mark his final resting place. R.I.P.