Voting is now open to find Westminster’s top cat as Battersea brings back their ‘Purr Minister’ competition for 2026.
Battersea is putting cats in the spotlight and inviting the public to cast their vote for their favourite moggy as the charity bring back their ‘Purr Minister’ competition for 2026.
The popular contest sees MPs and Peers’ feline companions battle it out for the coveted title of Westminster’s top cat. Each contestant has submitted a carefully crafted Manifursto, setting out why they should win your vote and a place at the top of the political scratching post.
Their policies include plenty of classic cat priorities, from guaranteed nap rights and rapid response treat delivery to an expanded programme of sunny windowsills. But beneath the whisker-twitching campaign promises there is a serious message, with candidates spotlighting the real issues affecting cats and their owners, including rising vet bills and the challenges of responsible pet care.
While the competition is plenty of fun for political moggy enthusiasts, it also gives Battersea a chance to keep cat welfare firmly on Westminster’s agenda, calling for action on issues including tackling harmful extreme breeding features, properly regulating cat breeding, and ensuring more cats are microchipped in line with legal requirements.
Time to vote!
Now it’s time to meet the cats in the running for ‘Purr Minister 2026’ and cast your vote for your favourite feline forerunner! You have until 31 August to have your say about who Westminster’s top cat should be.
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Bella
Adrian Ramsay MP
At age 14, gorgeous Bella is the senior cat of our contestants. Will her experience and wisdom persuade the public that she has the right stuff? Bella says, “For too long we have suffered closed doors, visible bowl bottoms and unacceptable delays in tuna delivery.”
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Clem and Mo
Johanna Baxter MP
‘Clement Cattlee’ and ‘Mo Meowlam’ combine faces you can’t say no to and political pedigree. They pledge to “reform the vet market to reflect the NHS spirit, ensuring care is based on need, not bank accounts. No more cat-astrophic bills.”
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Ebba
Helen-Ann Hartley, Lord Bishop of Newcastle
You might think the pet of a spiritual Peer would stay above the political fray but sweet Ebba’s standing for Purr Minister “because it’s time to stop cat-napping through life and start living it paws-first!”
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Millie
Dr Scott Arthur MP
Millie certainly knows how to strike a pose! She’s a real firebrand too, demanding “unlimited naps, prime sunbeam access, and immediate snack distribution on request. All cardboard boxes are sovereign cat territory.”