10 Downing Street Hires Cat to Catch Mice
Source: Denis Defreyne
Since January 2011, when a rat was spotted running across the front door of 10 Downing Street, a debate began about whether the premier's London residence required a cat or not. A month later, a tabby named Larry was adopted from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and recruited to undertake the lengthy task of ridding this well-known British landmark of its rodent problem.
A spokesman from Number 10 said that Larry had shown a "very strong predatory drive" while at Battersea and that he "enjoyed playing with toy mice." Whether this translates to him actually achieving results at No. 10 is yet to be seen, as he is currently still confined indoors to adjust to his new home.
One question that comes out of all of this is why do cats react the way that they do to mice and rats? Although other animals, such as ferrets and some dog breeds (terriers make great rat catchers) have traditionally been used to catch rodents, cats come to mind first when these pests appear.
Every breed of cat has the hunting instinct coursing through its veins. This means that, even if you feed your feline friend well, it will stalk and hunt small animals if it has the opportunity. In the wild, animals such as rodents are the primary source of food for cats. While the need to hunt is not so critical for domesticated animals, the instinctual urges are still there. Which seems to be just as well, really, for the Prime Minister!
As for why cats prefer mice and rats over other animals, this may be a result of how easy rodents are to actually catch. Through the patient method of waiting and then stalking its prey, a mouse is a relatively easy target for any feline, especially when you compare them to animals such as birds and lizards that can get out of harm's way very easily. Mice and rats are also no threat to cats, making them much more sensible targets. There are also large numbers of them in just about any human habitat, whether it be rural or urban.
Humans may also have had a part in honing the modern-day cat's killer instinct. In the past, these animals have frequently been used for pest control and this may have artificially evolved the feline need to hunt down any rodent that they see. Larry is simply the latest in a long line of mousers that stretches back in time for thousands of years.
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