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Westminster welcomes third Battersea mouser
Gladstone
Gladstone can look forward to greeting visitors and pawing over pound signs.

Gladstone named after former Prime Minister

Her Majesty's Treasury has adopted a new cat to help conquer the menacing mouse problem at Westminster.

Joining Downing Street's Larry and the Foreign Office cat Palmerston, Gladstone is the third moggie to be adopted from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

The one-year-old domestic shorthair was found wandering the streets of London earlier this year, hungry and with no microchip.

"We are thrilled that Gladstone has now taken up residence in the Treasury and have high hopes that he'll be ready to take on the gardens of the Horse Guard Road offices," said Lindsay Quinlan, Battersea's head of catteries.

"He's a confident cat who absolutely loves people so he'll have to tear himself away from his cat cuddles to get down to business becoming a marvellous mouser," she adds.

Gladstone is named after Wiliam Ewart Gladstone who provoked strong reactions and served as Prime Minister for four separate periods - more than any other Prime Minister.

When he is not polishing his whiskers and stalking the corridors for mice, Gladstone can now look forward to greeting visitors and pawing over pound signs.

A Treasury spokesperson said: "We are confident that Gladstone will live up to the legacy of his namesake and go down in history as one of the most impressive cats to roam Whitehall".

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS annual renewal fee for vets due

RCVS' annual renewal fee for veterinary surgeons is now due. Vets must pay their renewal fee before Wednesday, 1 April 2026.

This year's standard annual fee has increased to 431 from last year's 418. This is an approximately three per cent increase, as approved by RCVS Council and the Privy Council.

Tshidi Gardner, RCVS treasurer, said: "The small fee increase will be used to help deliver both our everyday activities and our new ambitious Strategic Plan, which includes aims such as achieving new legislation, reviewing the Codes of Professional Conduct and supporting guidance, and continuing to support the professions through activities such as the Mind Matters Initiative, RCVS Academy and career development."

A full breakdown of the new fees is on the RCVS website. Information about tax relief is available on the UK government website.