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Animal charity offers up mousers to Parliament
Ginger tom Simba is the purrfect candidate for chief mouser.
New figures reveal rising cost of pest control 

A leading animal charity has been urging Parliament to take on one of its cats to sort out a growing mouse infestation since 2014, it has been revealed.

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home first approached Westminster authorities to suggest taking on one of its mousers in early 2014, after the cost of pest control for Parliament during the 2012/13 financial year was revealed to be £73,552.

That figure has since doubled and includes the cost of hiring a full-time pest control technician.

Battersea's head of catteries, Lindsey Quinlan said: "Battersea has been hearing persistent reports of mice scuttling around the Houses of Parliament for several years now, and the latest figures released clearly demonstrate that tax payers are funding a rising cost for pest control in our Government buildings.
 
"Battersea has over 130 years in rehoming rescue cats and was the first choice for Downing Street, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, and the Cabinet Office when they sought our mousers to help with their own rogue rodents. We'd be more than happy to help the Houses of Parliament recruit their own chief mousers to eliminate their pest problem and restore order in the historic corridors of power."

Battersea hopes its success in rehoming Larry, Palmerston and Gladstone in recent years could help relieve any perceived health and safety concerns about having the cats in the offices. In 2016, the charity re-homed some 50 cats to working farms and believes it is ideally placed to advise MPs on how to ensure the welfare of cats roaming the site.

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home currently has around 62 cats looking for a home, including several who would pounce on the opportunity given the chance. Potential candidates include seven-year old Peggy, who has a proven track record of bringing back presents, and a gorgeous ginger tom called Simba, who loves to chase and pounce.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.