Fine art demands some preservation--that's why Russia's famous Hermitage Museum is home to over 60 on-duty feline "security guards", whose sole focus in life is to keep the gallery rat-free with masterpieces unchewed. The Hermitage Museum and Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia, is one of the world's largest and finest art galleries. Little-known is the fact that cats run an twenty-four hour pest control solution for the famous digs--and have for over 200 years. The cats who work security patrol even have their own caretaker--a woman devoted to around-the-clock hours, like the felines. It all started during the eighteenth century, when empress Elizabeth--fed up with the gnawing rodent problem--sent for Russia's best "rat-catchers". Those cats and descendants have remained at the museum ever since, through wars and revolutions, successfully keeping rodents at bay. The Hermitage's felines live underneath the palace, guarding from the subterranean levels, and monitoring outside museum grounds. The Hermitage has recently had a turnover of new cats who guard their palace: the new generation represents an array of proud descendants and bloodlines of those whom have served as previous security for the Saint Petersburg art museum. Their home might be basement level, but these cats aren't sub-par. View the attached video to see how these cats are priceless to the art gallery world--keeping vigilant guard over the irreplaceable masterpieces.