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Mark Large / AP
Larry, 10 Downing Street's new official rat catcher, looks out of a window in the Prime Minister's residence in London on Feb. 15.
Chris Hampson, NBC's Director of International News
LONDON – History is littered with the broken promises of those who reach high office. They pledge to change the world; to make things better; to crack down on the rats who would ruin our lives.
We've heard it all before from those who choose to prowl the corridors of power.
Now here, apparently, comes another one.
Step forward “Larry,” the latest appointment at 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the British prime minister.
Larry has only been there for a couple of weeks, but already he stands accused of being asleep at the wheel. Or, more correctly, catnapping on the job.
Not surprising really. Larry is a cat.
But not just any old cat. Not long ago he was from the wrong side of the tracks – a rescue cat. Rumor had it he had once run wild and was a bit of a bruiser. Ideal background for a life in politics.
Then his rags-to-riches moment. Spotted through the bars of his cage, he got a call from the prime minister's office.
Within days he was on his way to take up his new position as Chief Rat (and Mouse) Catcher at Number 10. Not those sharp-toothed political rodents we hear about, but real bubonic-plague-spreading furry things.
The not-so-little terrors were seen scuttling across the famous front doorstep by TV cameras originally intent on covering more important matters.
Where Disraeli, Churchill and Thatcher crossed, there went the rats. So much for security.
Not since Defoe wrote his “Journal of the Plague Year” in 1722 have rats so interested journalists.
Enter Larry.
Barely had the 4-year-old tabby lapped up his first saucer of milk on the job, when a whiskering campaign began against him. He was, some said, simply not up to the job.
"He has shown no interest in the many mice in Downing Street,” said one of Larry's anonymous accusers (cattily) from inside Number Ten. And, unusually for that place: "There is a distinct lack of the killer instinct.”
The problem is that he spends too much of his time, well, sleeping.
Alastair Grant / AP
Larry, 10 Downing Street's new official rat catcher, arrives at the British prime minister's residence on the front seat of a vehicle on Feb. 15.
Doh!
With the exception of politicians, the whole world knows that cats – at up to 16 hours of slumber a day – come second only to possums, bats and teenagers in the sleep department.
I mean, unless you're a politician in pursuit of the youth vote, you wouldn't ask a gangly, spotty 14-year-old boy what the dawn chorus sounds like, right?
So why get a cat at all?
Well, for a start there's a long and distinguished history of cats at Number 10.
The first dates back to Cardinal Wolsey's time 500 years ago. Churchill enjoyed the company of “Nelson”; Neville Chamberlain the “Munich Mouser”; Edward Heath “Wilberforce.”
In 1989 another stray wandered into Downing Street and took up residence with Margaret Thatcher. “Humphrey” – who became one of the most popular and admired cats in Great Britain – was by all accounts a formidable mouse-catcher. His reputation earned him the official title of “Mouser to the Cabinet Office,” and his $150 a year food bill was paid for out of the departmental budget.
That was said to appeal to Thatcher – a stringent monetarist – because he was much cheaper than the $6,000 charged by a pest controller who was said never to have caught a mouse.
But rats? That's an altogether different league.
No doubt Larry will, in true cat fashion, take it all lying down.
Meantime, if Downing Street really wants to get rid of the rats, may I, as a dog-lover, offer this advice?.
Get yourselves a Jack Russell terrier. When it comes to rodents, they're ruthless and efficient – and will feel right at home in politics.
Leave a Comment:
I agree on the cats/mice, dogs/rats scenario, having watched it play out in many of my homes over the years. Cats won't take on rats (too big, too smart) unless the cat is VERY hungry. Mice, shrews, voles, moles, small birds, geckos, etc are more in the target lineup for most cats.
Perhaps a Maine Coon would do the trick?
My Jessie-cat was an excellent ratter. She could be seen with one hanging from both sides of her mouth.
Iris wan't a hunter but if a rodent -- rats included-- crossed his path he'd take it out. Or in, as the case may be. He once came in the back door with a rat in his mouth before I realized what he had. That was an adventure.
Recently we received a notice that our neighborhood was over run with rats. I had to limit Bob's morning outing because, obviously, we had no rats and he had to leave the yard to hunt them.
It's nonsense that a hungry cat is a better hunter. Only a well-fed human would come up with such foolishness. Would a hungry ditch-digger do his job better for the hunger?
Eh, I wouldn't really place your bets on cats just sticking to mice and teeny rodents.
Believe me, size ain't an issue.
The writer of this article does not have a cat. "Up to 16 hours of sleep." Up to? Try "at the very minimum," more like 20 hours of sleep. Of the remaining four hours about three are spent grooming.
Leave that poor kitty alone and get a trap for god's sake..
My kitty used to be a serious hunter out on the farm. He completely wiped out our gopher population by averaging 5 or so gophers a day (that we knew about and since I saw him eat them completely more then a few times there were probably more). He also went after snakes and I saw him drag home a bunny 1.5 times his size once- thankfully I never saw him play or toy with them- just quick clean kills- and he had no interest in birds.
Anyway, he's an indoor cat now and while he loves to run around and play (still at age 14!), he has no interest in any small animals (well, he has eyed my snake occasionally but usually loses interest in seconds). I think he's happy being retired. Anyway, maybe this cat has had enough violence in his life and now wants to settle down and enjoy the easy life?
Thank you, Emilyin, for making your unnatural, introduced killer predator an indoor cat. All the animals you mentioned, your cat enjoys slaughtering are biological diversity, the veritable strands in the web of all life, the animals that create, sustain and maintain the Earth's ecosystems, in the eco-nomics of man's very existence. Without the Earth's natural ecosystems, the Earth would be as life giving as Mars.
Take for instance our native gophers; they are in the eco-nomics of tilling and renewing a life giving soil, aerating the soil and creating new soil, and native snakes are the finest rodent control on the Earth as a cat cannot slither into a rat hole. Domestic cats share the dubious honor with man of killing for the pleasure of it and not for hunger. Well-fed cats make the most rapacious & successful of hunters, the most successful because they are stronger because they are well-fed! Cats don't "toy" with their hapless victims; they torment and torture them for an inordinately long, length of time, which many claim is a "stomach wrenching sight".
Wildlife rescuers report, domestic cats consistently and constantly butcher birds and wildlife, almost all of which are the cogs in the machinery of a life giving Earth. "Oh, yes, we get them all the time. Birds with their eyes popped out; their guts hanging out of their bodies". Even if the tortured animal or bird survives the slaughter, they ultimately die from the pathogens from the cats teeth that cause vast infections in their tortured, mangled bodies.
A bird advocacy in CA., reports, each day, domestic, free-roaming house cats in this nation of animal-lovers, slaughter 4.5 million birds, every day. USA alone. And, domestic cats are the top agent of all RECORDED extinctions in the last 400 years. And, domestic cats caused over twice as many of these extinctions as the second agent, the European rat while the mongoose claimed third price for obliterating the strands in the web of all life.
Awww, animal-lovers, lovers of the "most dangerous predator ever introduced" according to the Swedish Wildlife Study. Check out the Wisconsin Study, the Great Britain Study, the Bird Feeder Study, the Virginia Study, and see if you can obtain Nat'l Geographic's, "The Secret Lives of Cats" that substantiates all my input on domestic cats. And, indoor cats' life expectancy is 20 years while an outdoor cats is but 5. Talk about a win, win with indoor cats only; a win win for the Earth, for all of mankind and for cats and and a big win for Holy Creation.
Maybe we should focus our attention a little less on cats and a little more on ourselves? Human kind the holy creation that is responsible for a lot more damage to our ecosystem.
skor154
you sound like one of those people that want to ban and or destroy all cats. as a cat lover i HATE that mentality, as a renter i hate it even more. my cats are my family (im disabled) they do not go outdoors but they used to at our previous place.
cats as much as you may hate it, ARE part of the ecosystem, they sure didnt come here from mars. and any one that wants to take my cats away because some neighbor got ticked off that they fertilized there Petunia's can take them over my cold dead body!
skor154, that is a lot of tl;dr going on in your comment.
anyway, you sound like a complete weirdo. predators attacking and eating prey happens all the time in the animal kingdom. nothing you can do to stop it. some birds are predators and some birds are the prey. and maybe you should realize that cats, too, are a cog in the ecosystem, just like the slaughtered birds you speak of.
I'd also love to see some scientific statistics to your claims. each one. give it up.
skor154, i just have to ask, how mant birds come into the world a year? but i agree. @!$%# domestic cats, get tigers. that wa they might eat your neighbors kid. and that neighbors kid might end up like skor. so we would do the world a favor.
Dont you people have a sense of humor or understand satire. You must be British.
yap they need a terrier
He looks like the cuddly type.
Make the cat a pet, and set traps for the rats. Use grain for bait..they love cream of wheat in dry form.
My little kitty (who is no longer with me) was 8 lbs. She was also a 'rescue' cat I suppose since she was the neighborhood mooch who just decided to move in with me one day.
We moved to a new house that backs up to a creek. She brought home huge rats, mice, birds and squirrels. Got to the point we always provided a 'mouth-check' when she came in (that happened after she brought in the live mouse - which she dropped - it ran, and we chased it for 15 mins before she caught it again). And then there was the bird she brought in... So mouth-check became routine.
I had her 18 years and she had to have been at least 2 years-old when she moved in according to the vet. I cried for days and days when she died. I now have a cute granddaughter who exhibits some of the exact same characteristics as Spot (my cat's name) - I wonder...
We have a three year old, 18 pound, "alley cat", who occasionally brings home birds, field mice (quite large), and other assorted rodents. He also comes home about once a year with the snot beat out of him. Bleeding from various puncture wounds, torn ears, tufts of fur in his claws, etc. Still... He's awesome and we love him dearly.
Then I suggest you keep that cat inside. His next fight might be his last.
A very entertaining and well-written article. Nice job, Mr. Christopher Hampson.
I have to totally call hogwash on this. I've had cats take down huge gophers here that would just about eat a rat. You have to get a cat that was allowed to be raised by a mother who hunted though, it's not "instinct" alone. Dogs can be good ratters...just don't complain when they bite toddlers, babies and anything else that squeeks...it's better for dogs to be trained to NOT go after small animals.
Actually, dogs are not listed in the roll call of the most deadly Earth killers, the introduced, transported killer predators that slaughter the strands in the web of all life. The domestic cat has caused twice as many extinctions of the Earth's biological diversity as the second agent listed, the European rat; third is the mongoose.
According to the Swedish Wildlife Study, the domestic cat is the most "dangerous predator" ever introduced. When domestic cats and rats were inadvertently introduced and transported to the Earth's islands, the Earth spasmed with a massive spasm of extinction of the very cogs in the machinery of all life, the machinery that is all natural functions, systems and cycles and life giving of planet Earth. You do not have oxygen, food, water and life because of domestic cats; you are only alive because of the animals that create, support, sustain and maintain the Earth's ecosystem; the very animals domestic cats are wiping out.
Actually, the fact is that HUMANS are the single greatest threat to all species of animals, as well as plant life through their greed for develpment and money which destroys the natural habitats of animals and destroys all life and will lead to the ultimate destruction of human life and this planet. Don't be misled by cat-haters and money-hungry environment-destroying developers who twist the facts to suit their purposes. "No global warming, no destruction by humans!" they say. Blame it all on some innocent animal, or, say it is all a figment of our imagination when we are all living in a Biospere because the earth has become uninhabitable due to HUMANS! Tell your grandchildren that you had nothing to do with the destruction of this wonderful earth that is rapidly being destoyed by HUMAN greed! Yes, tell them that you either participated in the destruction of life or that you stood by silently doing nothing while watching others destroy the earth for profit!!!!!! I am sure your descendents will thank you for ensuring that they have a miserable existence due to your own greed of lack of foresight! The fact is that all the money you may accumulate by destuction of the environment cannot replace the ecosystem once it is gone! All the money in the world cannot replace it!!!!!!
JusticeComes,
I would venture to guess that most of us here believe in environmental responsibility to at least some degree. The earth's eco-system has amazing resilience, so relax.....
"Show me a good mouser and I'll show you a cat with bad breath."...Garfield
Sir Lawrence (soon)will not dignify his person to step outside No.10 Gowning St. and be ambushed by all the paparazzi- no rats for Sir Larry- its time for the Brits to have an owl patrolling the entrance outside of course,When it comes to any mouse or mice they stay away in order not to disturb Sir Lawrence.At next year's Oscar's the Best Actor will be Sir Lawrence of No.10 Downing Street- Oscars have already been given for The Queen and The King's Speech. In the meantime I look forward of getting the latest gossip about Sir Larry and it is time for Kittyleaks to expose the catty public servants,
Get Larry a young kitty friend to help him with the duties.
Cats must be taught to catch mice by their mothers or they don't know how or what to do. My Yorkie has killed 3 rats; they are doomed if she sees or smells them and it's all instinct.
Stop feeding the cat - he'll then hunt.
I'll write it again, that notion is patently absurd. Do you do your best work when malnourished?
A good hunter is a healthy, vigorous cat. Not all cats are hunters. Are all people hunters?
Humans really need to get over themselves.
You have obviously never lived on a farm, and never personally observed the differences between a barn cat and a house cat. No, I am not suggesting starving the cat. But a cat pampered to gluttony, has no incentive to hunt.
My cat Tux, who went to The Eternal Lap last June at the age of 20 years and 3 weeks, never went without a mea and was a fearsome hunter. He caught birds, mice, and rats. He was born in the mountains and stayed with his mother until he was 3 months old, so I think that the point that early training is important is well taken.
I think the only catagory that the felines can be in is there own. I have 3 house cats. Two will come and let you know the door was left open and um, please shut it as there is a breeze. the third, well she's the mouser! she's caught her fair share of lizards (we live in Florida) a geiko, and would go through the windows if I didn't catch her when she hears/smells or see a snake. I don't know if it is a taught trait or some just simply have it in them. I've had her since she was 6 weeks old and she would never starve in the wild. the other two (who are boys) well, lets just say they'd have to start being very very nice to her or they'd starve.
I have two "rescue" cats. Both indoor cats, but we live in the country and the house has a fieldstone foundation, so we get mice. The older one (about 3, we think) couldn't be bothered to chase mice. He's perfectly content to sit back, get rubbed, start purring, and...break wind. And yes, he spends most of his time sleeping. The younger one (age two) is the mouser. A number of times we'll see him sitting near a wall, or the basement door, because he knows there's a mouse. He's also the one who seems to be convinced that every meal is his last - I guess that's where the rescue cat in him comes from.
We have a cat named O.K. (stands for Orange Kitty, original I know). He was born in the garage of a house we used to live in. He eventually decided that we were ok and moved in with us. The only time he has ever been to a vet was when he was neutered. Sometimes after he'd caught a rat, he'd come inside with it. He would growl at us as if to say "mine, mine" but would half-choke cause his mouth was stuffed full. This would cause us to break out laughing. He is now in his 18th year, still extremely healthy and semi-retired from rat hunting.
LOL @ the fierce bird advocate on here. I am an animal lover but the sad fact of living on this planet is that most animals kill other animals, and not always for feeding purposes. It is how mother nature works. No animal should be lableled a "killer" or "innocent". For instance, blue jays have been known to kill and eat other baby birds! Humans kill more birds through galss windows, automobiles, electrical lines, pesticides, surburban sprawl, deforestation, communication towers, hunting, windmills etc than any other. Humans also contribute to the large number of feral cats, that have to eat to survive, through neglect and not having them fixed.
A Jack Russell terrier will outwork a cat anytime. They're also great pets. Not that cats aren't; I like both, actually, but since you chose the Jack as a comparison, I have to go with that. And don't forget to have your pet spayed and neutered. It helps make happier and healthier pets.
Lore has it that female cats are the better mousers..., probably since they are the ones to feed the babies.
Try a nice girl kitty. (And a trap or two).
Try a Calico. My Calico Chili is 16 and we joke that if she was the size of a tiger, whole villages in India would go missing. She was dumped on my porch when she was about 6 weeks old and was always just a natural hunter. Every Calico cat I have ever had has been a great hunter. She has perfected the "I'm not looking at you." tactic of hunting where she tricks the bird, mouse, etc, into thinking that she hasn't really moved towards them by rolling around in the grass, etc, etc. And then before they realize it, it's over for them.
My companion, JRT in charge, would solve the problem by eliminating the rats, cats and any stray racoons who might be walking in the neighborhood. It would be a clean house after 3 minutes of furious work.
Skor: go away, k? You're annoying my cats.