British Prime Minister David Cameron unveiled the newest recruit to 10 Downing Street on Tuesday: a cat called Larry with a "very strong predatory drive" for catching rodents。

　　The four-year-old tabby joined Cameron and his family from London's Battersea Dogs and Cats Home to tackle pest control issues after a rodent was spotted on the steps of the most famous front door in the land。

　　Just last month the government said there were no plans to bring in a new cat, but the prime minister's official spokesman said Tuesday that Cameron had "certainly been persuaded that it was a good idea"。

　　"Whilst in Battersea's care, Larry showed a very strong predatory drive and enjoyed playing with toy mice," the spokesman said。

　　"Before coming to Battersea, Larry was a stray so he was used to fending for himself in the streets。

　　"Nothing is ever guaranteed but his behaviour at Battersea convinced staff that he'll be up for the job of ratting."

　　Larry's appointment comes after a rat was spotted in two television news bulletins scurrying around outside the black door of the prime minister's residence in central London。

　　There has been no Downing Street cat since Sybil, who moved in with then Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling in 2007 but returned to Edinburgh after six months, having failed to settle in central London。

　　Sybil was the first cat to live in the street since the legendary Humphrey, a stray who took up residence under prime minister Margaret Thatcher and outstayed John Major。

　　Tony Blair sent Humphrey into retirement in 1997 amid persistent speculation that his wife Cherie forced him out。

　　Humphrey was on the payroll, receiving £100 (160 dollars, 117 euros) a year from the Cabinet Office budget。

　　But with Cameron's coalition government facing public anger over sweeping cuts to public services, there was no immediate word on where funding for Larry would come from。

　　英国首相大卫•卡梅伦本周二宣布，首相府唐宁街10号新任“第一猫”拉里走马上任，而且“捕鼠干劲儿十足”。

　　这只4岁的斑猫来自伦敦(动物收容所)“巴特西猫狗之家”。它加盟卡梅伦一家是为了解决首相府的鼠患之忧。此前，人们曾发现一只老鼠在英国最有名的首相府邸台阶上出没。

　　就在上月，英国政府还表示无意“招聘”一只新猫，但首相官方发言人本周二表示，卡梅伦已经“接受了这一建议，觉得这主意还不错”。

　　这位发言人说：“在巴特西猫狗之家时，拉里就展现出强烈的捕鼠意愿，而且喜欢逗玩具鼠。”

　　“去猫狗之家前，拉里是只流浪猫，得在街上自己找食吃。”

　　“现在还不敢打包票，但它在猫狗之家的表现使大家深信它已经准备好上任捕鼠了。”

　　拉里走马上任前，人们曾在两段电视新闻中看到伦敦中部首相府邸的黑门外，有只老鼠蹿来蹿去。

　　自从“西比尔”离任后，唐宁街第一猫的“职位”一直空缺。西比尔在2007年和前任财政部长阿里斯代尔•达林一起来到这里，但6个月之后就回到了爱丁堡，没能在伦敦中部长住。

　　在西比尔之前，唐宁街“第一猫”是富有传奇色彩的流浪猫汉弗莱。汉弗莱的女主人是前任首相玛格利特•撒切尔，直到约翰•梅杰卸任时它还在唐宁街。

　　托尼•布莱尔在1997年让汉弗瑞“退休”，一直有猜测认为是他的妻子切丽赶走了它。

　　汉弗莱在任时，每年还领取100英镑(合160美元，117欧元)的薪水，由内阁办公室支付。

　　卡梅伦领导的联合政府正因削减公共服务支出而面临指责，因此谁给拉里拨款还不清楚。