The cat wars of Downing Street have escalated to "worrying" levels, after another fierce scrap between Number 10's Larry and Foreign Office mouser Palmerston.

Larry has already been treated by a vet for an injury to his right front paw following a scrap with his black and white adversary.

The latest bout had to be broken up by a seasoned political photographer, who has charted the hostilities in recent weeks.

This Downing St cat fight has to stop the worst fight I've ever seen I'm holding Palmerston after they limped off ! pic.twitter.com/tG94DrDHso — Political Pictures (@PoliticalPics) August 1, 2016

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home has revealed it has stepped in to try to end the turf war, after calls for something to be done before one of the cats is seriously injured.

The animal rescue centre said one of its feline welfare specialists had been in contact with both Downing Street and the Foreign Office.


Battersea's head of catteries, Lindsey Quinlan, said she recommended that Larry and Palmerston have "temporary restrictions" put on their outside access to "reduce the risk of them meeting in their early days".

A History Of Downing St Cat Fights

Monday morning's fight saw scraps of fur lying all over Downing Street and both cats limping away - Larry having had his collar ripped off - after being separated.

The photographer, who tweets under the name Political Pictures, said it was the worst fight he had seen between the two cats.

Shortly after the altercation, the Foreign Office denied that marks on Palmerston's neck were the result of the fight but said it had been a bad reaction to flea drops.

Palmerston is the newcomer on the scene, arriving at the Foreign Office in April with the chief job of catching mice.

But he has slowly encroached on Larry's patch - even trying to make his way into Number 10 last week, before being slung out by a police officer.

Larry has been in residence since 2011.

Image: Palmerston was introduced to the Foreign Office in April

David Cameron spoke of him in his last Prime Minister's Questions, saying he could not take him when he left because Larry did not belong to him.

He said: "Sadly I can't take Larry with me, he belongs to the house and the staff love him very much - as do I."

Although given the recent onslaught, the tabby is perhaps wishing the former inhabitant had taken him away.

The photographer said it was time the problem was sorted out and Sky's Senior Political Correspondent Sophy Ridge said the escalation of the fighting had now become "worrying".