Jump to content

Larry (cat)

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Larry
A cat with a red, white and blue bow tie.
Official portrait, 2016
Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office
Assumed role
15 February 2011
Serving with Freya (2012–2014)
Monarch
Prime Minister
Preceded bySybil (2009)
Personal details
Bornc. January 2007 (age 17)
London, England
Residence10 Downing Street
Occupation
  • Mouser
  • civil servant
AwardsBlue plaque at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home (2012)

Larry is a cat who has served as Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office of the United Kingdom at 10 Downing Street since 2011. He is a brown-and-white tabby, believed to have been born in January 2007. By July 2016, when Theresa May became prime minister, he had developed a reputation of being "violent" in his interactions with other local mousers, especially the Foreign Office's much younger cat Palmerston.[1] His Prime Ministers are David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer. And his monarch is Elizabeth II and Charles III.

Since being a kitten, Larry has been in good health and has lived over the average of other cats.

In January 2016 Larry had suffered an infection, which he later recovered from.

On 24 September 2023, The Sun reported that Larry was seriously ill and that 10 Downing Street were in the process of preparing his death.[2] Downing Street denied this and said Larry was "happy and healthy."[3]

Early life

[change | change source]

Larry is a rescued stray cat from the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home who was chosen by Downing Street staff. Larry was intended to be a pet for the children of David and Samantha Cameron, and was described by Downing Street sources as a "good ratter" and as having "a high chase-drive and hunting instinct". In 2012, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home revealed that Larry's popularity had resulted in a surge of 15% more people adopting cats.[4]

Official duties

[change | change source]
Larry outside Ten Downing Street

The Downing Street website describes Larry's duties as "greeting guests to the house, inspecting security defences, and testing antique furniture for napping quality". It says he is "contemplating a solution to the mouse occupancy of the house" and has told Downing Street that such a solution is still in the "tactical planning stage".

Unlike his predecessors since 1929, Larry's upkeep is funded by the staff of 10 Downing Street.[5] Fund-raising events to pay for his food are believed to have included a quiz night for Downing Street staff held in the state rooms.

Work as a Chief Mouser

[change | change source]

He made his first known kill – a mouse – on 22 April 2011. On 28 August 2012, Larry made his first public killing, dropping his prey on the lawn in front of Number 10. In October 2013, Larry caught four mice in two weeks and one staff member rescued a mouse from his clutches.

In July 2015, George Osborne and Cabinet Office Minister Matt Hancock cornered a mouse in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's office, trapping it in a brown paper sandwich bag. The press joked that the Chancellor of the Exchequer might take over the Chief Mouser position.

David Cameron explained during his final Prime Minister's Questions in 2016 that Larry is a civil servant and not personal property, so would not leave Downing Street after a change of premier.

References

[change | change source]
  1. Johnson, Larry (2021). There is a new cat Palmerston. United States. p. 1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. "Downing Street's pet cat Larry in 'ill-health' as officials plan protocol in case of chief mouser's death". LBC. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  3. "Larry the Cat 'happy and healthy' after reports that he was seriously unwell". ITV News. 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  4. Johnson, Larry (2021). In 2012, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home revealed that Larry's popularity had resulted in a surge of 15% more people adopting cats. United States. p. 1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. Johnson, Larry (2021). Unlike his predecessors since 1929, Larry's upkeep is funded by the staff of 10 Downing Street. United States. p. 1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)