Adrian Ramsay MP's cat Bella crowned Purr Minister of 2026
Adrian Ramsay MP for Waveney Valley is delighted that his beloved cat Bella has won the public vote for Purr Minister of the Year.
Welcoming the victory and reinforcing his work on animal protection, Adrian said:
“I'm delighted that the real boss of our house, Bella, has been crowned Purr Minister of the United Kingdom. I'm very proud of her! Battersea does vital work on behalf of cats nationwide, helping to highlight the welfare challenges cats face and the action needed to keep them safe and healthy.”
Adrian continued by saying, “We are a nation of animal lovers, and I am proud to play a leading role in championing animal issues in Parliament. Animal protection isn’t a side issue. It is fundamental to the kind of country we want to be, and the public rightly expects us to act.”
“That is why it is vital that this Government fully implements the commitments in the Animal Welfare Strategy published last December. Ministers must set clear timescales to phase out confined systems in factory farms like crates and cages, properly support farmers through the transition, and ensure imports meet the same standards we expect of our own farmers. Warm words in a strategy document mean nothing without delivery, and animals deserve action not more delay.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Through Purr Minister, Battersea aims to encourage policymakers and the public alike to consider the welfare challenges facing cats today and the actions needed to help keep them safe and healthy.
For those inspired by Bella's success, Battersea encourages prospective owners to consider adopting a rescue cat and helping more animals find the loving homes they deserve. For more information about Purr Minister 2026, and to read Bella's winning 'Manifursto', visit: https://www.battersea.org.uk/about-us/news/purr-minister
Adrian has a long-standing record on animal welfare. In December 2025, he coordinated a cross-party letter, signed by over 35 Parliamentarians, urging the Government to ensure the forthcoming Animal Welfare Strategy included a time-bound phase-out of all confinement cages and crates in UK farming, alongside a fully-funded package to support farmers through the transition. At the time, Adrian said: "We often say the UK leads the world on animal welfare, yet millions of animals remain confined in awful conditions that many other European countries have already moved away from. As a nation that prides itself on caring for animals, it is unacceptable that these cruel practices continue."
When the Government's Animal Welfare Strategy was published, Adrian welcomed it but warned it "must have real teeth to deliver meaningful improvements for animals," calling for clear timescales to phase out crates and cages, proper support for farmers through the transition, and no imports that fail to meet UK standards. He also welcomed action on snares, hunting and puppy farming, while calling for the strategy to go further, including by ending greyhound racing, as the Welsh Government is doing.
Picture of Adrian & Bella can be found it at this link https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wyrPZdxsWLfMM39hVRMUsV7yRK3WN-f8/view?usp=sharing.
Press release from Battersea in case you did not receive it.
Battersea is delighted to announce that Bella, the beloved cat of Waveney Valley MP Adrian Ramsay, has been elected Purr Minister 2026.
After weeks of campaigning and public voting, 14-year-old Bella secured 36 per cent of the public vote, triumphing over three fellow feline candidates to become Westminster's top cat for 2026.
Bella won over voters with the promise of sweeping reforms - such as a ban on visible bowl bottoms and the introduction of a tuna-based economy - positioning herself as the candidate determined to tackle the issues that matter most to cats. Her vision of a future built on sunlight, full bowls, warm
keyboards and obedient humans clearly struck a chord with the electorate, landing her the title of Purr Minister 2026.
Battersea's much-loved Purr Minister competition continues to celebrate the unique role cats play in our lives while raising awareness of important cat welfare issues. Since launching in 2014, the contest has seen parliamentary cats from across Westminster compete for the prestigious title.
Adrian Ramsay, Waveney Walley MP and proud owner of Bella said: “Bella is greatly looking forward to devoting all of her 1.5 waking hours per day - when she isn’t eating, hunting spiders or grooming – to serving the cats of the United Kingdom and advancing the battle for full feline dominance and
sovereignty.”
Bella's victory comes as Battersea continues to campaign on behalf of cats nationwide. While microchipping became compulsory for pet cats in England in 2024, Battersea's latest research found that more than one in five cats still do not have a microchip, highlighting the ongoing need to raise awareness among owners. Through Purr Minister, Battersea aims to encourage policymakers and the public alike to consider the welfare challenges facing cats today and the actions needed to help keep them safe and healthy.
For those inspired by Bella's success, Battersea encourages prospective owners to consider adopting a rescue cat and helping more animals find the loving homes they deserve.
