Battersea has been trying to get Parliament to adopt a cat since 2014 - and has two which are perfect for mousing

Battersea Dogs and Cats home has been pushing for Parliament to get a cat in order to sort out its rampant mouse problem since 2014, the charity has revealed.

The charity approached the House of Commons to suggest taking on one of their mousers in early 2014, after the cost of pest control for Parliament during the 2012/13 financial year was revealed to be £73,552.

Now this cost has ballooned to £130,000 a year, and MPs have pleaded for a cat after mice swarmed through their offices and caused havoc in the tea room, Battersea has picked out two cats who would be perfect for Parliament.

The figure includes the cost of hiring a full-time pest control technician.

The House of Commons has ruled out the perhaps less expensive option of getting cats to deter mice from running amok in the buildings on health and safety grounds.

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."

While Whitehall boasts five mousers - Larry the Number 10 cat, Palmerston the Foreign Office moggy, Gladstone the Treasury puss and Evie and Ossie from the Cabinet office - Parliament has been left cat-less.

Battersea Dogs and Cats home hopes to help - here are the two cats they've suggested for re-homing. It currently has 62 homeless cats looking for a loving home.

Peggy

Battersea says: "Top of this lovely seven-year-old’s manifursto is spending time with her public and having a fuss - but like many politicians, she also has an independent streak. She's got a proven track record of bringing back presents for her party so she'd be in her element somewhere with plenty of mice. She isn't interested in the company of other cats as long as there are some humans around to spoil her."

Simba

Battersea says: "This gorgeous ginger tom is a very chirpy chatty boy, so he'd be perfect as the new Speaker of the House. Simba loves to chase and pounce on his favourite toys. He has plenty of energy and will provide his new home with hours of entertainment, although in the right environment he's also keen to settle down and have a cuddle."

Many MPs agree with Battersea that something has to be done about the mouse.

One Conservative MP voiced his worries to The Telegraph earlier this week, saying: "My biggest worry is that it was only the bongs of Big Ben that was scaring the mice off to any extent at all... anyway, on cats, if Number 10 and the FCO can have one each, parliament should have dozens." 

MP Stella Creasy said: "I for one will be joining cross party efforts for feline membership of Parliament - not just for the mice, it's YouTube gold in waiting!"

Wes Streeting MP asked for a cat, telling The Telegraph: "Luckily, my part of the building isn't infested with mice, but it's time to stop pussy-footing around.

"Lots of staffers are scaredy cats when it comes to mice. A parliamentary cat might not be a purrfect solution, but after a summer of silly season stories about the Tory leadership, this is definitely the Mogg we've been looking for."

Anna Turley MP said: "Rather than spend a fortune on pest control why not let nature take its course and have a parliamentary cat or two. It will cheer the place up!"

Parliamentary staff have also been bringing up the issue for months.

Responding to a poster which told them ways to help end the mouse infestation - which included advice such as: "Store all your food, tea, coffee etc in lidded containers", one rebellious staff member wrote: "GET US A CAT"