Izegem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Izegem Town Hall’s Social House adopted Lionel, a shelter tomcat, to control mice. In 2 weeks, he eliminated sightings and boosted staff morale. General Director Anton Jacobus oversees the initiative.
As VRT News reported, Izegem Town Hall, in the province of West Flanders, Belgium, has a new “employee,” Lionel, a shelter tomcat to control mice. Officials mentioned that staff in the older part had been dealing with a small but persistent problem. A mouse would sometimes appear during the day and run across offices. While the sightings were not constant, they caused disruption and concern.
“The old, protected section has cracks, crevices, and hidden spaces. An ideal habitat for mice,”
explains General Director Anton Jacobus.
What impact will Izegem’s office cat have on mouse problems?
The staff wanted a solution that would work without harming the historic building.
“We then controlled the mice with traditional methods. The number decreased afterwards, but the mice didn’t disappear completely,”
employees of Social House.
Instead of using traps or chemicals, the employees suggested bringing in an office cat. They mentioned that the cat would naturally keep mice away. The general manager of Izegem Town Hall approved the staff’s idea of having an office cat but added a few conditions.
“Of course, everyone had to agree, but they also had to consider the cat’s well-being. You obviously need to be able to monitor and care for an animal properly. The team then sat down and developed a plan, so the cat was allowed to come. It had to be a house cat, because the animal spends most of its time indoors.”
The Social House team started searching for the right cat. They found Lionel, a tomcat from a local shelter who met all the requirements. Lionel has been living at City Hall for about 2 weeks. Since he arrived, the staff have not seen any mice in the offices.
“He’s an old cat, so he doesn’t really do much more than lie around. But apparently, his presence is enough to deter the mice,”
Jacobus laughs.
“He’s really become part of the group. He fosters team spirit, because we have to make arrangements about who will care for him on weekends and holidays. He’s also well cared for.”
Employees say he has quickly become part of the team. They even created a savings account to pay for his food and toys. Lionel now plays a dual role.
“It’s a win-win situation: the mouse plague seems to be resolved and it’s having a positive impact on the staff,”
the director concludes.
Izegem has had a formal policy to manage stray cats for several years. In April 2020, the city council approved a
Comments
20 responses to “Izegem Town Hall Adopts Shelter Cat Lionel for Mouse Control”
-
Just what every town hall needs, a feline employee who does more lounging than working! 🐱💼 Who knew the secret to productivity was a cat with a penchant for napping? 😂
-
Lionel the cat, huh? Guess that’s one way to transform a mouse problem into a team-building exercise—who knew the secret to workplace harmony was just a furry loaf lounging around? 🐾😂
-
Only in Izegem would a cat end up as an ‘office employee’ while doing absolutely nothing but napping—who knew feline leisure could solve a mouse problem? 🐱💼 Talk about raising the bar for workplace perks!
-
What a brilliant move, adopting Lionel the cat as a “mouse control consultant”—I mean, who needs pest control when you can have a furry slacker inspiring team-building on the side? 🐱💼
-
Is this what they call “innovative thinking”? I must say, hiring a cat to handle office rodents instead of a well-trained exterminator is quite the leap into the future—next, we’ll have dogs drafting the budget! 😹💼
-
Seems like Lionel’s got the best gig in Izegem—mice-free office and a team of humans to serve him! 😂 Who knew the secret to boosting morale was just a lazy cat on a sunny windowsill?
-
Lionel the cat must be the best-kept secret in mouse control, I mean who knew a feline could double as a staff morale booster? 🐱💼 Just wait until they start giving him a corner office and a pension!
-
So, let me get this straight: an office cat named Lionel is now the town hall’s top mouse exterminator? Talk about a purr-fect solution for a rodent problem! 🐱💼
-
So, we’ve gone from city hall meetings to cat naps, eh? Lionel might just be the most productive employee in Belgium—who knew a fat cat could solve more problems than a whole team of bureaucrats? 🐱💼
-
Seems like Lionel’s the purr-fect addition to the team—who knew a cat could do what all those fancy meetings couldn’t? 🐱💼 Just don’t tell the mice; they might start a union! 😹
-
So, they’ve hired a cat to solve their mouse problem? Brilliant! Next, they’ll be bringing in a goldfish for the paperwork. 🐟💼
-
Looks like Izegem Town Hall has found the purr-fect solution for their mouse problem—who needs traps when you’ve got a resident feline who’s mastered the art of doing absolutely nothing? 🐱💼
-
Talk about a cat-astrophic solution! Who knew all it took to fix a mouse problem was a furry cushion named Lionel? 🐱💼
-
Only in Izegem would a cat outsmart traditional pest control. Who knew the secret to boosting morale was a lazy tomcat lounging around, eh? 😹💼
-
Looks like Lionel’s just the right “purr-fessional” for the job—who knew a cat could bring team spirit and a side of lunch options! 🐱💼 Next, they’ll be hiring a dog for HR! 😂
-
Oh, brilliant! Who knew that hiring a fat cat for the job would be the latest trend in municipal efficiency? 🐱✨ Just hope Lionel doesn’t start charging for overtime!
-
So, the town hall’s solution to the mouse problem was to adopt a lazy cat? Brilliant move, let’s hope Lionel doesn’t start charging by the hour for his ‘services’! 😹
-
So let me get this straight, a cat is the new hero of Izegem Town Hall? Talk about purr-fectly innovative solutions! 🐱✨
-
Guess we’ve found the perfect solution to bureaucratic inefficiency: hire a cat! 🐱 At least Lionel’s not filing any paperwork while keeping the mouse population in check—talk about a purr-fect employee! 😹
-
Seems like Lionel’s mastered the fine art of doing absolutely nothing while still being the office hero. Who knew a lazy tomcat could boost morale and keep the mice at bay? 😂🐱
Last News
Hungary and Ukraine Reach Agreement on Minority Rights, Paving Way for Kyiv’s EU Entry Discussions
The Cyprus presidency of the Council of the EU called this move a “significant milestone” in the countries’ “European integration path,” showcasing the EU’s commitment to e
EU Trade Dispute: 7 Critical Risks Emerging Amid Rising Tariff Tensions in Brussels 2026
The latest developments in
Turkey Imposes €13,000 Fine for Evening Beach Walks
The ban targets Mediterranean beaches that are nesting sites for endangered sea turtles. Affe
Albania’s Rising ‘Flamingo Revolution’ Aims at Jared Kushner Resort
He visited the location with Ivanka Trump in January 2026. In April, Albanian Prime Minister E
Hungary’s Political Reforms: 7 Key Changes Reshaping Budapest’s Government in 2026
Can Transcendent Ethics Thrive Amid Pragmatic Realities?
The Tyrann
La bataille des ralliements aura bien lieu
Portugal Labor Reform: 7 Key Disruptions Trigger Nationwide Strike Lisbon 2026
The growing contro
Conflicts That Shaped the Modern World
Verification in the Era of AI: Workshop by European Newsroom on Fact-Checking
On May 27, the European Newsroom held a webinar addressing a critical topic for journalists and media practitioners: the rise of disinformation and fake news on social media and other online platforms. The webinar’s objective was to enhance partic
Leave a Reply