Staff at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home have issued an open invitation to the Prime Minister to find a feline friend to help combat Number 10’s rat problem.

The offer comes after a rat was spotted scuttling past the famous door in Downing Street on two TV news bulletins earlier this month - but a Number 10 spokesman has reportedly ruled out a visit to the Battersea cattery.

Kirsty Walker, head of cats at the animal rescue charity, said: “We have some great cats here at Battersea and any one of them would make a great family pet for the Camerons, not to say ward off any unfriendly rats.

“There was of course Humphrey, the famous Downing Street cat who sadly died five years ago, and he’d be a hard act to follow. But we are confident Battersea could offer a terrific successor to Humphrey - a Coalition cat the Prime Minister could be proud of.”

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