Rufus of England
Rufus of England Treasury Bill | |
|---|---|
| 1st Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office | |
| Monarch | George V |
| Prime Minister | Ramsay MacDonald |
| In office 22 January 1924 – 4 November 1924 | |
| In office 5 June 1929 – c. 1930 | |
| Succeeded by | Peter |
| Personal details | |
| Occupation | Mouser |
| Gender | Male |
Rufus of England, popularly nicknamed Treasury Bill, was a cat who served as Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office of the United Kingdom under prime minister Ramsay MacDonald.
Treasury Bill was described as a ginger cat and a "a renowned ratcatcher". His nickname was created among Cabinet members and house staff.
Whilst technically the first cat to serve in this role, he was never officially given the title and only served for less than a year, meaning his successor − Peter − is often considered the first chief mouser.
Treasury Bill served during MacDonald's first term as prime minister in 1924 and returned in 1929 when MacDonald became prime minister for the second time. According to the Sunday Mail, he was apparently still on duty in 1930.