HUMPHRY THE CAT

Humphrey the cat is dead. He wandered into No. 10 Downing Street in 1989 and quickly became the official "mouser in chief" to Margaret Thatcher and remained throughout the term of John Major. "World of politics mourns a legend," said the Sun headline.

"It is true. We learned last week that Humphrey has died," said a spokesman. Some months after Tony Blair took office, he was sent to be with a civil servant to live in "retirement." Blair was accused of having the cat killed because his wife didn't like him.

"Humphrey is now a missing person. Unless I hear from him or he makes a public appearance, I suspect he has been shot," had chimed opposition Conservative politician Alan Clark. The government had to offer proof that Humphrey was indeed alive at that time.