Belgian prime minister welcomes special-needs rescue cat to his Brussels office

A stray cat adopted by prime minister Bart De Wever is making himself at home in Belgium’s seat of government at 16 Rue de la Loi.

Maximus Textoris Pulcher is “a distinguished grey cat who joined the permanent staff” a few weeks ago, De Wever announced proudly on Instagram.

The new team member has already endured the cabinet’s attempts to finalise a raft of reforms before the holidays. “He certainly made his presence felt during the summer negotiations,” revealed De Wever. “His well-timed howls captured the mood perfectly during the late-night sessions.”

Maximus is a Scottish Fold cat, a breed that suffers from osteochondrodysplasia, a genetic condition that affects cartilage and causes the ears to distinctively fold down. It is no longer bred in Belgium due to the resulting painful joint deformities and mobility issues.

After being abandoned, the feline was admitted to the Poezenbos animal shelter in Buggenhout, West Flanders, where he unfortunately contracted the FIV virus.

Although he needs to be isolated from other cats to prevent transmission, he is being well looked after at the government’s office, reassured the prime minister. “At 16 Rue de la Loi, he has a huge living space at his disposal and receives loving care every day.”

Photo: ©Instagram