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Battersea's cats prepare to tackle parliamentary mice
Jill is on a list of cats ready to be rehome at the House of Commons where mice are nibbling parliamentary papers
Jill is on a list of cats ready to be rehome at the House of Commons where mice are nibbling parliamentary papers

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.


 

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.