London homeowners looking to tackle a mouse infestation without cruel poisons can order a rescue cat for free through an app to keep the rodents at bay.

The 'mousers-on-demand' initiative pairs rescue cats in need of a temporary foster home with Londoners in desperate need of a poison-free pest control.

The idea is that a cat’s lingering scent is enough to deter even the most foolhardy of mice. The kitties may also catch a few rodents while they're there.

The short-term service (between a couple of days and a month) has been made possible thanks to a partnership between animal charity Wood Green and on-demand cleaning and DIY services app Handy.

Pearl has the cold eyes of a well-trained rodent assassin

There's a new section on the app dubbed the 'CATalogue', where you can browse and order the pets.

It's free, although users of the service are encouraged to make a donation to the animal charity.

Juliette Jones, a volunteer at Wood Green, said: "We are delighted to make some of our cats available for app-powered fostering.

"We have over 200 cats in need of good homes, some of which will benefit from being cared for temporarily in a home environment, until they find their forever homes.

"We hope that this unique service will open people’s minds to the positive impact – both practical and emotional – of having a lovable feline in residence."

Budding cat fosterers will need to be within 40 minutes of Wood Green, north London, and be able to drive.

You can find Handy in the App Store and Google Play.

Originally published on the Mirror Online.