Prime Ministers come and go, but Larry remains unmoved. The British political world’s favourite feline, Larry the Cat, has lived in Downing Street for more than a decade after being adopted during David Cameron’s premiership.
Born in 2007, Larry was adopted by Downing Street staff in 2011, initially as a pet for Cameron’s children, and quickly became one of Downing Street’s most beloved creatures.
Whose is this?
Officially, Larry is part of the Downing Street team – who look after him.
No one is responsible for No10’s Chief Mouser, who turned 17 in January.
David Cameron, shortly before leaving the Prime Minister’s residence, said that Larry is a civil servant and therefore will not leave Downing Street.
What is his job title?
After being adopted, Larry got a job. The Downing Street website describing Larry’s duties lists him as a visitor greeter, security systems inspector and furniture tester for sleep quality.
He has been the chief rat-eater for five prime ministers: David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. No wonder questions have been raised about his propriety.
Larry’s “performance” at work has come under scrutiny in the past. A month after he arrived at Downing Street, unnamed sources told the Daily Telegraph that Larry displayed “a distinct lack of killer instinct”.
However, he was seen killing a pigeon in 2020, while at one point bringing dead rats to reporters.
The fights with Palmerston
Larry’s relationship with other animals in Downing Street has also been a cause for concern in the past.
He is involved in a violent fight with the Foreign Office’s cat, Palmerston, with Larry going to the vet to have his injuries treated.
Problem solved because Palmerston retired to the field.
However, she also clashed with Rishi Sunak’s Labrador retriever, Nova. And (of course) he won.
The “capsoni” for Trump
Disruption was also caused during one of Donald Trump’s visits to Downing Street to see Theresa May after he decided to lie down under the armoured Cadillac, meaning the former US president could not leave.
David Cameron said, however, that Larry seemed quite taken with Trump’s predecessor.
“Surprisingly, he liked Barack Obama” the former prime minister told the BBC in 2011. But in general, Larry doesn’t like men.
David Cameron has said he gets “a bit nervous” around men – which could be due to his past as a mutt.