Source From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ukchina/simp/elt/take_away_english/111116_tae_343_cat_story.shtml

Larry the cat

Has Larry become just another government fat cat?

Larry the cat is still top dog at Number 10 Downing Street.

The British Prime Minister’s cat was brought in earlier this year after a large rat was seen running around.

But he has lately become tangled up in controversy. On Monday it emerged that a mouse had appeared at a Prime Ministerial dinner.

Then on Tuesday Larry was photographed sleeping on the job, as he took a nap during the arrival of ministers for their weekly cabinet meeting.

Has Larry become just another government fat cat? David Cameron’s spokesman dismissed rumours that the tabby’s predatory drive isn’t as strong as it was believed – even though it has emerged that the PM had to throw a fork at a mouse during a recent dinner with ministers.

Larry isn’t the first ‘First Pet’ to be dogged by controversy. George W Bush’s dog Barney’s pet hate seemed to be journalists. Being on a leash didn’t prevent him from biting a reporter’s finger.

But then, that’s exactly the kind of loyalty a premier needs. Pets are steadfast, companionable and of course never let the cat out of the bag.

Indeed, in the dog eat dog world of politics, it must sometimes feel like a dog is not just man’s best friend, but his only one.

In 1997, while Bill Clinton was himself in the doghouse for his affair with the White House intern Monica Lewinsky, he was photographed constantly in the company of his Labrador, Buddy. As the saying goes: “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog”.

top dog首领，头号人物
to be tangled up陷入某种纠纷
to sleep on the job怠工，打盹
a fat cat肥猫，指薪水过高的人
to dismiss rumours否认谣言
a tabby（虎斑）猫
predatory drive寻食的本能/动力
the First Pet相当于第一夫人的位置
to be dogged by something受到某事的负面影响

a pet hate特别讨厌的东西或人
to be on a leash拴在链条/绳索上
to bite咬
steadfast立场坚定的，不变的
companionable友善的
to let the cat out of the bag不小心吐露了秘密
dog eat dog狗咬狗，无情竞争
man’s best friend人类最忠实地朋友
to be in the doghouse被打入冷宫