Why this cat will live at Downing Street longer than any PM

London’s 10 Downing Street is the official residence and office of the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister, though another inhabitant has stolen the country’s hearts.
Once a stray cat, Larry, the ‘Downing Street Cat’ is a 17-year-old tabby who has taken up residence in the iconic home.
Larry, an official civil servant, was appointed Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office at 10 Downing Street 13 years ago.
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Untethered by the country’s leaders, Larry is a permanent resident of the home and is technically owned by the state.
According to the UK’s official government website: “Larry spends his days greeting guests to the house, inspecting security defences and testing antique furniture for napping quality.
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“His day-to-day responsibilities also include contemplating a solution to the mouse occupancy of the house. Larry says this is still ‘in tactical planning stage’.”
The adorable feline began this role in 2011, living under the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III and a whopping six prime ministers.
Larry has seen David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer through their careers.
Initially, Larry was adopted from the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home by Downing Street staff as a pet for then-Prime Minister David Cameron and his children.
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One year into his life at the house, in 2012, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home said that Larry’s publicity had resulted in a 15 per cent increase in cat adoptions.
Despite the overwhelming rodent issue at 10 Downing Street, Larry reportedly took two months to catch his first rat, which he allegedly dropped at the feet of the Prime Minister’s secretaries.
Though Larry has kept his political allegiances close to his chest, he did not enjoy his time living with Boris Johnson, or more specifically, his dog.
The former PM said: “Larry, in my view, is a bit of a thug. I say this because our dog Dilyn went a few times to Larry’s lair, and Larry being out at the time Dilyn decided – entirely naturally and reasonably – to eat his food. The reprisals were terrible.
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“Have you ever reached out idly in a pub to take a chip from someone else’s plate, and found yourself unexpectedly stabbed in the hand by a fork?
“That is the kind of reaction that Dilyn provoked from the Downing Street mouser.
“The poor dog was quite badly mauled.”
Unfortunately, Larry has already outlived the average lifespan for a tabby cat, prompting Downing Street officials to prepare a “media plan” to announce his eventual passing.
When the 17-year-old cat’s time comes, he will join the 10 mouse catchers that came before him to become a heartwarming piece of British history.
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