El Jalapeño: National Palace overrun by feral cats, Sheinbaum admits

In Mexico City, President Claudia Sheinbaum made a surprising admission during her daily address, revealing that the National Palace's operations have been badly hindered by a growing feral cat population. Initially reported to have only 16 felines, the palace now hosts an unregistered surge of stray cats, disrupting the daily functioning of the government.

These cats, classified as "living fixed assets" under Mexican law, now dominate the palace, with cabinet members, guests, and security staff forced to negotiate with the feline residents for access to workspaces and corridors. The crisis worsened after an attempt to introduce a new puppy, Rollo, failed when senior orange tabbies blocked the main garden paths.

President Sheinbaum acknowledged the imbalance, stating that the cats now control about 98% of the palace, making it difficult to integrate new canine staff. Several important rooms have already been taken over by the animals, and the courtyards now operate on the cats' schedules. Staff members are finding it challenging to complete official tasks, as some keyboards remain occupied by sleeping felines.

Despite the unrest, the government has no intention of removing the cats, citing their legal protections. Instead, they plan to establish a specialized feline mediation task force to manage shared access before welcoming foreign dignitaries.