LONDON – In an era of political turmoil, where prime ministers come and go with startling frequency, one figure has remained a steadfast presence at the heart of British power. He has seen off six governments, weathered Brexit, navigated a pandemic, and outlasted every elected leader he has served alongside. His name is Larry, and he is a cat.
Britain’s most famous feline celebrates his 15th anniversary as Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office on Sunday, marking a remarkable milestone at 10 Downing Street that has prompted national affection and more than a few observations about the nature of political stability .
From Humble Beginnings to Corridors of Power
Larry’s journey to political prominence began not through connections or ambition, but through a rather more practical concern: rodents. In 2011, repeated sightings of mice during live television broadcasts from Downing Street prompted then-Prime Minister David Cameron to take action . The solution arrived on February 15, when a four-year-old tabby and white cat was adopted from London’s Battersea Dogs and Cats Home .
Staff at the renowned shelter reportedly described their former charge as “a bit of a bruiser” – a label that would prove prescient as Larry established his authority in his new surroundings . His official title became “Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office,” and his biography on the government website, with characteristically dry British humour, outlines his duties: “Larry spends his days greeting guests to the house, inspecting security defences and testing antique furniture for napping quality” .
Six Prime Ministers and Counting
In the 15 years since Larry took up residence, Britain has experienced political upheaval on an extraordinary scale. He has served under David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, and currently Keir Starmer – six prime ministers in total, a turnover that makes his own continuous tenure all the more remarkable .
The contrast has not been lost on observers. When BBC Breakfast announced Larry’s milestone on Sunday morning, presenter Roger Johnson noted that “he’s lasted longer than some prime ministers,” to which his co-host Sarah Campbell quipped: “Yeah – most of them” .
Through the chaos of Brexit, the isolation of COVID-19 lockdowns, the scandal of “partygate,” and Liz Truss’s dizzying 49-day premiership, Larry has reportedly maintained what might best be described as feline composure. “Nothing seems to ruffle his fur as this political veteran glides from crisis to crisis with feline calm, and the lick of a paw,” observed one report .
A Media Darling Who Steals the Spotlight
Now believed to be around 19 years old, Larry has become an unlikely media superstar, regularly upstaging the world leaders who arrive at the famous black door . Photographer Justin Ng, who has documented Larry’s career for years, describes him as a natural performer.
“He’s great at photo-bombing,” Ng told the Associated Press. “If there’s a foreign leader that’s about to visit then we know he’ll just come out at the exact moment that meet-and-greet is about to happen” .
The list of world leaders who have been inadvertently overshadowed by a cat is surprisingly long. When President Donald Trump visited in 2019, Larry not only crashed the official doorstep photo but then proceeded to take a nap under “The Beast,” the presidential armoured vehicle . During Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit in December, Larry was on hand to greet him, drawing a smile from the wartime leader .
In January, he sent a photographer stumbling on the red carpet after darting unexpectedly between his legs during a visit by Poland’s president . It has been observed that Larry is largely unfriendly to unfamiliar men, though he reportedly made an exception for former US President Barack Obama .
His relationship with the press corps stationed permanently outside Downing Street is more affectionate. “He’s very happy with people who know him,” Ng explained. “He’s a big ham. He loves to pose” .
The Hunter… or Not?
Larry’s official raison d’être is rodent control, though reports on his effectiveness vary considerably. He has been photographed catching the occasional mouse, and once famously caught a pigeon – which then escaped .
“He’s more of a lover than a fighter,” Ng said diplomatically. “He’s very good at what he does: lounging around and basically showing people that he’s very nonchalant” .
Despite his relaxed approach to pest control, his supporters point out that he was photographed catching mice as recently as last year, suggesting the old instincts remain intact .
A Digital Influencer with 877,000 Followers
Larry’s influence extends far beyond Downing Street’s walls. His unofficial X account, @Number10cat, boasts more than 877,500 followers, who tune in for his dry observations on political life .
Run by an anonymous user, the account sees Larry grumble about getting caught in the rain and occasionally take “catty swipes” at politicians, notably targeting UK Reform and the administration of President Trump . His popularity online reflects a broader public affection for a figure who seems to transcend the partisan divisions of human politics.
His first months “in office” even inspired a book, The Larry Diaries, published in 2011 .
The Feline Politics of Downing Street
Life at Number 10 has not always been harmonious for its most famous resident. Larry has cohabited, sometimes uneasily, with various prime ministerial pets over the years, including Boris Johnson’s Jack Russell cross Dilyn and Rishi Sunak’s Labrador retriever Nova .
His most legendary rivalry, however, was with Palmerston, the diplomatic top cat at the Foreign Office across the street. The pair were caught tussling several times before Palmerston retired in 2020 . In a poignant twist, Palmerston died earlier this month in Bermuda, where he had been serving as “feline relations consultant” to the governor. Larry’s X account led tributes with a simple message: “Farewell old friend x” .
Currently, Larry shares the residence with JoJo and Prince, the Starmer family cats. Prince, a Siberian, joined in 2024 after what were described as “negotiations” with the prime minister’s children, who had originally wanted a German Shepherd dog . There was a practical complication: as Keir Starmer told the BBC, “The only door out of our new flat is bomb proof. Therefore, getting a cat flap is proving a little bit difficult” .
Larry is reportedly kept away from the newcomers, ruling the working areas of Downing Street while they inhabit the private family quarters .
A Permanent Civil Servant
Crucially for his legions of fans, Larry’s position is secure regardless of election results. He is considered a permanent civil servant, which means he gets to stay at Downing Street for good – unlike the transient politicians who pass through .
This status has made him a symbol of stability in increasingly unstable times. Philip Howell, a Cambridge University professor who has studied the history of human-animal relations, explained Larry’s significance to the Associated Press.
“Larry the cat’s approval ratings will be very high,” Howell said. “And prime ministers tend not to hit those numbers. He represents stability, and that’s at a premium” .
Howell noted that Larry’s nonpartisan nature is part of his appeal, particularly to Britons who appreciate his independence. “The fact that cats are less tractable is part of the charm, too. He’s sort of whimsically not partisan in a political sense, but he tends to take to some people and not to others and he won’t necessarily sit where you want him to sit and pose where you want him to pose. There is a certain kind of unruliness about Larry which I think would endear him, certainly, to Brits” .
As for the suggestion that a prime minister might one day dispense with the nation’s favourite cat, Howell was unequivocal: “A cat-hating PM, that seems to me to be political suicide” .
The Future for Britain’s First Feline
At 19, Larry is showing his age. His fur is greying, and he has slowed down somewhat . But he continues to patrol his territory, sleep on his favourite window ledge above a radiator just inside the Number 10 door, and greet – or ignore – the world’s leaders as they come and go.
His anniversary has sparked widespread celebration among cat lovers and political observers alike. Social media users have been quick to note the irony of a cat achieving the longevity that eludes elected officials. “The real power behind the throne,” one observer quipped . “Larry’s been working while PMs came and went. Peak career stability,” remarked another .
“He has the most stable job in British politics and hasn’t spent a single day pretending to care about the public – truly living the dream,” wrote another admirer .
As Britain contemplates its political future with the usual mixture of hope and trepidation, one thing appears certain: whatever changes may come, Larry will likely be there, napping on the radiator, occasionally catching a mouse, and reminding everyone that some things – even in politics – can be relied upon.
Jerry