British Parliament rejects cat due to fat fears

LONDON, March 13 (UPI) -- Members of the British Parliament have declined an offer of a mouse-catching cat over fears the feline would get too fat off scraps.

Leaders in the House of Commons were offered a cat by the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home to help with the rodent infestation at the Palace of Westminster, but they rejected the offer for reasons including fears the cat would be overfed with scraps from animal-loving members of Parliament, the Daily Telegraph reported Thursday.

John Thurso, spokesman for the Commons Commission, said leaders also feared the cat would be in danger from the 1,748 poisonous bait stations set up around the palace to kill the rodents. He said officials were also concerned about the effect the feline would have on lawmakers with allergies.