Black-and-white puss Gus has become the latest in a long line of political cats after being adopted from Cats Protection by Government Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, George Eustice MP.
The three-year-old caught the eye of the politician and wife Katy when they visited the charity’s Mitcham Homing Centre in Surrey to find a new pet.
Gus, who was handed into the charity because his owner was moving and could no longer keep him, is now settling into his new home with the Minister and his wife.
The long-haired moggy joins an illustrious list to bring a feline touch to political households, including Downing Street’s Larry, former Chancellor George Osborne’s Freya, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s El Gato and resident mousers Gladstone and Palmerston, now living at the Treasury and Foreign Office respectively.
Mr Eustice, MP for Camborne, Redruth & Hayle, said: “Gus, the newest addition to our family, took all of twenty minutes to settle into his new home and stretch out on the sofa. All the team at Cats Protection were fabulous and the rehoming centre was immaculate. Charities like this do great work.”
Cats Protection is the UK’s leading cat charity, helping over 500 cats and kittens per day through its national network of over 250 volunteer-run branches and 32 centres.
Cats Protection’s Mitcham Homing Centre’s Deputy Manager Rosie King said it was clear that Gus would make a perfect pet for George and Katy.
She said: “Gus has such a lovely temperament and he made a beeline for George and his wife as soon as he saw them. Within five minutes, he had plonked himself on their laps and was purring away. In hindsight, I think it was more a case of Gus choosing them than the other way round!
“George and Katy went away overnight to think it over but were back in the morning to collect Gus – he had certainly left an impression.
“Like many cats, Gus has a lovely, calming presence so we know he will be well suited to a political household. We’re thrilled they’ve found each other, and wish Gus all the best in his new life.”
Cats Protection’s Advocacy Manager Jacqui Cuff said the charity works closely with Government on issues affecting cat welfare in the UK, in particular Defra, which has responsibility for animal welfare issues.
She said: “We’re thrilled George has decided to adopt from Cats Protection, and we wish his family and Gus all the best as they get to know each other. Cats Protection has thousands of cats in its care across the UK, all waiting for their second chance in life, so we hope lovely Gus will inspire more potential owners to adopt from us.
“Cats are much-loved pets and form a vital part of households across the UK, with around a quarter of households owning one. Yet despite their popularity, charities such as ours see growing numbers of unwanted or abandoned cats, as well as very sick kittens being sold online.
“We always encourage prospective owners to consider adopting from a charity such as Cats Protection, and in particular to consider an adult cat such as Gus. Whilst kittens are always popular, there are many benefits to adopting an adult cat rather than a kitten – they are normally calmer, more settled and as their character is fully formed, you can see how well they would fit in with the household.”