Politicians and their pets: Murdo Fraser

Pet's name?

Felix

Breed? 

Moggy

Age? 

Just turned one

How long have you had him? 

From three months.

Where did you get him? 

From the Cats’ Rescue – he was found on a farm as a tiny kitten and needed a home.

What can he do?  

Eat, sleep and hunt.

What do you love about him?

Felix is a good-looking chap and can be very affectionate when it suits him. He also bosses the neighbourhood!

What special talents does he have? 

A remarkable ability to break into any container or cupboard which just might contain food.

What’s his best trick? 

It’s not so much a trick as a quirk – sleeping on his back like a human.

What are his most annoying habits? 

Felix is an efficient hunter and constantly brings home victims from the local wildlife, usually mice and birds. This is not so bad when they are dead. We have had too many episodes of chasing live mice round the house as they try to escape his jaws.

What’s the worst thing he’s done? 

We once rescued a live, but terrified, mouse and returned it outside.  Half an hour later he had found it again and brought it back in. Sadly we couldn’t save it a second time.

Do you think of yourself as a pet parent or pet owner? 

The correct term would be servant.

What’s the most ridiculous thing you have bought or done for your pet? 

At Christmas the kids dressed him up in a Santa hat and beard. He took it with as much good grace as can be expected.

What was the first pet you ever had? 

We had a Shetland Collie called Flossie who died when I was very small.

If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be?   

I love elephants which are the most wonderful, majestic, noble creatures. Probably a little impractical as a pet in suburbia.

If you could be any animal what would you be? 

I would come back as a cat. Not the type who live behind the bins and scavenge for a living, but one looked after by a doting cat lady with a large budget for gourmet foods and treats.