Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in the UK is hosting a competition to find parliament’s favorite pet cat, with the winner being crowned ‘Purr Minister’. The competition features 12 nominees, all owned by MPs or peers, who have submitted their cats for the contest. Some of the entries include pun-filled manifestos and names inspired by political figures. The competition is open to the public, with voting closing on November 14.
One of the contestants, Attlee, is owned by Speaker of the House Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP. Attlee’s manifesto emphasizes his experience in international diplomacy and commitment to protecting the parliamentary community. Another entry, Chilli and Bandit, owned by Labour’s Stella Creasy MP, are kitten siblings promoting cat welfare and feminist videos. The competition also features cats named after historical political figures such as Clement Cattlee and Mo Meowlam.
Cookie, owned by Labour’s Janet Daby, is a rescued cat who enjoys playing chess. Cookie’s manifesto includes a commitment to ensuring every cat has a home and supporting policies that allow tenants to keep pets. The contest also includes entries like Ebba, owned by Dr. Helen-Ann Hartley, Lord Bishop of Newcastle, who advocates for pet-friendly properties and ending restrictive pet policies. Another notable contestant, Millie, owned by Labour’s Dr. Scott Arthur, takes a strong anti-Larry stance and promises daily nap time for citizens as part of her platform.
Mimi, a Snow Bengal cat owned by Labour’s Cat Eccles, is running on a platform that includes mandatory reporting of cats in road traffic collisions and advocating for rescue animals. Morty Plummer-Thompson, owned by Labour’s Adam Thompson, focuses on issues of housing for cats in rented properties and catching spiders. Murphy, owned by Liberal Democrat Layla Moran, pledges to advocate for frail felines and tougher regulations on cat breeding. Scampi, the only Tory entry, owned by the Conservatives’ Peter Bedford, highlights the importance of reporting cat road traffic accidents.
Sprinkles, owned by Labour’s Sadik Al-Hassan, presents a serious and independent platform without relying on puns. However, the seriousness of the competition is balanced with humorous and light-hearted manifestos from other contestants. Overall, the competition showcases a mix of playful puns, heartfelt stories of rescue cats, and a variety of platforms aimed at promoting cat welfare and responsible pet ownership. Voters have the opportunity to choose their favorite feline candidate until the voting deadline on November 14.
