Russian museum employs cats to protect artwork

For more than a century, visitors have marveled at the Hermitage Museum's precious collections, and for just as long, dozens of cats have prowled the St. Petersburg palace's sprawling cellars.

The felines have one main task - to root out unwanted guests: rodents. The 70-odd brigade have their claws so deep into the history of Russia's largest museum - and one of the world's oldest - that there is even a special feline unit dedicated to their welfare.

"Our cats are as well-known as our collections," beamed Irina Popovets, 45, who runs the unit.