Downing street cat

[Bindi]

My gran told me that John Major used to have a cat at Downing street that got kid-napped, or rather cat-napped. I apologise for that. Was she pullin my leg??

[boognish76]

There was a stray cat called Humphrey who had lived at Downing Street since 1989. Humphrey moved out shortly after Tony Blair moved in, supposedly for health reasons (the cat's!) but word is that Cherie is a cat hater and wanted rid. I don't think he was ever kidnapped.

[thewillow]

As far as I recall, Humphrey was brought fairly quickly. No 10 realised what bad PR it was. You might get away with supporting George Bush but not with getting rid of a pussy cat. There was a great photo of Cherie holding Humphrey. The look of distaste on her face told you all you needed to know.

[Pickle]

Apparently he was a stray that moved in under Mrs Thatcher, stayed during John Major's reign and was then moved to an undisclosed location in the suburbs to retire in 1997. This site has the infamous Cherie and Humphrey picture and a few other details about the moggie. http://www.catsincharge.co.uk/humphrey/index.shtml

[cobweb]

Why don't you ask the MYSTIC CAT what happened to Humphrey? S/he can answer any questions you may have! http://www.xmission.com/~emailbox/mysticat.htm

[vittoria]

I remember at the time, some papers wrote that the Blairs might have had the cat put down because Cherie did not like cats, whereupon a photo was sent to the papers with the cat alive sitting on a newspaper - so people could tell that at least he was alive on a certain date. I thought it was hilarious.