Cameron's cat to catch Downing St. rat

LONDON, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister David Cameron is getting a cat after a couple of rats, or the same rat twice, made surprise appearances on news broadcasts.

Sources say the four-year-old cat, said to be named Larry, was selected by a member of Cameron's staff at the Battersea Cats and Dogs Rescue Home, the BBC reported. There were several weeks of discussion on how to deal with the rodent problem with staffers at No. 10 Downing Street reportedly split on a cat while Cameron, his wife, Samantha, and their two older children were enthusiastic about the idea.

"The whole family really loves cats," a source said. "They have had two cats in the past and would love to have one in No 10."

There has been no word on whether the Battersea shelter followed its usual practice of inspecting a cat's future home in person.

A rat ran across the doorstep of No. 10 on separate occasions last month when the BBC and ITV were filming outside.

There is one catch to adopting a cat from a shelter. Since no one knows anything of Larry's past history, the Camerons do not know if he will be a good ratter.