shot-button
Olympic 2024 Olympic 2024
Home > Sports News > Football News > Article > Achilles the cat is World Cup footballs soothsayer

Achilles, the cat is World Cup football's soothsayer

Updated on: 10 June,2018 07:30 PM IST  |  Saint Petersburg
AFP |

Paul predicted winners for that year's World Cup by choosing one out of two boxes containing food, while Achilles will be presented with bowls marked with teams' flags

Achilles, the cat is World Cup football's soothsayer

Achilles the cat outside the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Pic/AFP

A deaf, white cat named Achilles is soon to begin his work as Russia's official soothsayer for the World Cup, following in the tentacle-prints of Paul the Octopus who became a star in 2010. Paul predicted winners for that year's World Cup by choosing one out of two boxes containing food, while Achilles will be presented with bowls marked with teams' flags.


"We went for Achilles because he is beautiful, first of all, but also because — like all white cats with blue eyes — he is deaf, so he has a great deal of intuition, he sees with his heart," said Anna Kasatkina, a vet who oversees guard-cats at St Petersburg's Hermitage museum.


For the World Cup, Achilles will move out of his lifelong home of the basements of the Hermitage, where he works with a team of dozens of other cats to keep the world-famous museum free of rodents. Instead he will live at the Cat Republic cafe nearby.


Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!


Mid-Day Web Stories

Mid-Day Web Stories

This website uses cookie or similar technologies, to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalised recommendations. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. OK