The UK Parliament has dismissed the idea of a feline solution for its ongoing pest problem. Despite the success of cats like Larry at Downing Street, officials argue Westminster’s environment poses too many risks.
Labour peer Lord Berkeley recently suggested using cats to control mice in Parliament. However, Senior Deputy Speaker Lord Gardiner quickly rejected the proposal. He cited multiple dangers to feline safety over this solution.
Construction work across the Parliamentary Estate could harm free-roaming cats. Additionally, self-closing doors might trap them without food or water. Furthermore, no daily care system exists for implementing a feline solution for animals on-site.
Senior Deputy Speaker Lord Gardiner of Kimble told Lord Berkeley advice given to parliamentary authorities was that cats would face risks from construction activity, self-closing doors and the lack of arrangements for caring for them.
Mice infestations plague the historic Palace of Westminster. Thousands of pounds go toward pest control yearly. Yet, a solution involving felines won’t be part of the strategy. Officials insist current methods are more reliable.
Meanwhile, 10 Downing Street enjoys the services of Larry, its longtime chief mouser. The rescue cat has lived there since 2011. Recently, Prime Minister Keir Starmer added two more cats to the household, representing his own feline.
The Foreign Office once employed Palmerston, another famous mouser. After retiring, he recently returned to work in Bermuda. His new role as a “feline relations consultant” gives a unique spin to a feline solution abroad.
While cats like Larry and Palmerston excel in government buildings, Parliament refuses the solution involving felines. Safety concerns and logistical hurdles make it impractical. For now, traditional pest control remains Westminster’s only option.
For more political updates, visit London Pulse News.
