IT S good to see that there is a cat back in Downing Street. Mind you we (that s me and Nipper the Cat) are a bit worried about it running around with the name of Sybil. It doesn t quite have the authority of Humphrey. Remember Humphrey? He was the one t

IT'S good to see that there is a cat back in Downing Street.

Mind you we (that's me and Nipper the Cat) are a bit worried about it running around with the name of Sybil.

It doesn't quite have the authority of Humphrey.

Remember Humphrey? He was the one that used to parade along Downing Street before disappearing into No 10.

And then, it seemed, he was no more.

Quite rightly there was public outrage over his disappearance. There were questions in the House.

Indeed, Nipper became concerned that she, too, could be the victim of such behaviour.

To protect herself from being sent away she disappeared for a day or so. But we knew she was curled up somewhere in the airing cupboard.

Eventually, however, she emerged and realised she would not be evicted and become homeless.

A cat such as Nipper knows when she has a good home and wouldn't risk making a protest by actually packing her dish and cat-nip mouse and leaving home.

Still, she was reassured when it was explained that Humphrey had moved rather than been put down in some dastardly act.

Humphrey's new home was with a Cabinet Office official until he died last year at the age of 18 years.

Say that quietly because it's one part of the story that Nipper doesn't know.

And besides she is now about 20 years old - and has spent every living moment since arriving as a kitten ruling our lives.

But most of the time we wouldn't have it any other way.

And that's in spite of recently acquired habits - such as mouse-catching.

No, it's not the mice that lurk in the outside world, but the one used on the computer.

It's amazing just how much work has disappeared because this vital instrument has been moved and "clicked" (sorry about the technical term).

Still it's not as bad as the more infuriating habit of taking a walk across the keyboard. Now that does cause problems.

The next thing we will know is that's she has discovered a website - probably at cat.com or whatever - where she can check on the progress of Sybil's life in Downing Street.

Still it keeps us amused.