Charity ready to answer MPs call with a list of its top mousers
A list of top mousers has been drawn up by Battersea Dogs and Cats Home ready to help catch rodents who are ruining offices in the House of Commons.
Three years ago, Battersea came to the rescue of the Prime Minister when it rehoused Larry the cat to help kill mice at 10 Downing Street.
Now MPs have called for Battersea to help tackle mice damaging parliamentary offices in the House of Commons.
According to MPs, sightings of mouse colonies are common in Westminster while they have also reported finding droppings and nibbled corners on official documents.
Pauline Latham, MP for Mid Derbyshire, is the latest parliamentarian to speak out in favour of the move during a debate about the damage.
The world famous animal rescue centre has revealed that it actually offered to house cats at the Palace of Westminster last year. That offer still stands.
Mrs Latham said: “Battersea Dogs & Cats Home do a fantastic job, and I would certainly love to have one of their cats come and take care of the mouse problem in my office.”
Anne McIntosh MP for Thirsk and Malton, and chairman of the House of Commons EFRA select committee, raised the mouse issue with the Leader of the House Andrew Lansley MP last year.
“In my view, provided the situation was controlled with care, particularly considering the welfare of those allergic to cats, the best way to control and eliminate the mouse problem in Parliament would be a rescue cat,” she said.
The charity has rehomed cats for over 130 years and cares for around 190 cats at any one time across its three centres in London, Berkshire and Kent.
The hit list of chief mousers includes three-year-old Jill who has experience of exterminating mice in her last home, four-year-old Finn who pounce on anything that moves, and cunning one-year-old Bloom.
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
