Larry, a famous cat who lives around 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the Prime Minister of Great Britain, is known as the “Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office. Share. Larry is a rescued stray cat from the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home who was chosen by Downing Street staff. [38], "Larry vs Palmerston is the real fight in Westminster", "Larry the cat to join David Cameron in Downing Street", "Churnalism or news? Larry the Downing St cat shunted by PM for being a uselss mouse catcher David Cameron has sacked Larry the Downing Street cat as No.10's chief mouse catcher. This involves the placement of the lectern, all the necessary cables and audio equipment and making sure that Larry, the Downing Street cat was out of harm's way. In December 2015, former Home Secretary, David Blunkett suggested that Larry should be asked to increase his responsibilities to include the Palace of Westminster, which at the time was being overrun by rodents. He's been a regular fixture on Downing Street during Mrs May's time as Prime Minister. © 2021 BBC. Social Sharing [40], A picture gallery to celebrate Larry's first two years in office was produced by The Daily Telegraph. Larry The Cat. UK PM calls in Larry the cat to catch the rats. After the Supreme Court ruled Prime Minister Boris Johnson had acted illegally and lied to the Queen, Larry wanted to calm the nation’s fears. In significant moment in Anglo-American relations, Larry even allowed Barack Obama to stroke him during the presidential visit in 2011 with Mr Cameron later revealing Larry was "all right" with him. The lack of a feline presence in Gordon Brown's HQ raised questions, and Mr Brown's official spokesperson was forced to deny the PM and his wife had a problem with Sybil. Rt Hon Theresa May MP: Larry the cat for Prime Minister. [9] On 28 August 2012, Larry made his first public killing, dropping his prey on the lawn in front of Number 10. 2 Min Read Larry the Downing Street cat has again reassured Britain that he is now running the country. "Fur flies in the House of Lords as peer asks: 'Who pays for Larry the Cat? Cameron mentioned that Barack Obama is an apparent exception to this fear: he said, "Funnily enough he liked Obama. Johnson took office earlier this week, walking through the black front door of Number 10 Downing Street for the first time after setting out a desire to defy his critics over Brexit and bring a decisive new leadership style to Britain’s top job. One element remains the same though: Larry the cat! Larry, the beloved No. Created with Sketch. [31] In September 2016, Lord Blencathra submitted a question in the House of Lords asking why the government did not pay for Larry's veterinary bill for an injury picked up in a fight against Palmerston, and whether the government would refund civil servants who paid for Larry's care. Larry for PM! The 12 year old tabby is the first cat … It's been speculated the Prime Minister is hoping to … Larry is also happy to work for biscuits (literally), meaning that the PM's wages normally paid by the UK tax payer can be put towards something more useful like the NHS for exam Coming from Battersea Cats and Dogs Home, Larry arrived at the famous address back in 2011 when Downing Street staff chose him as a pet for the Cameron family. But rumours circled the Westminster village when Humphrey suddenly left. The incoming prime minister had to share his home with the veteran Humphrey, who had already been patrolling the corridors for eight years when the Blairs moved in. Mr Cameron was actually responsible for bringing Larry to Downing Street in 2011. British Larry the Cat wants to join the Biden White House :) (Original post) steve2470: 10 min ago: OP: We need to ask Champ and Major about this. Alex Horton. Larry the cat currently holds the official role of chief mouser to the Cabinet Office, a position that's said to date back hundreds of years. @booklampcorner bought a dreamies. Johnson is reportedly looking to get a dog too, but he'll have to find one that can get along with Larry. Here, he quickly gained a reputation for being a bit, ahem, shall we say, feisty? On 14 February 2011, it was reported that a cat called "Larry" had been brought in to address the problem. @valerie345 bought 5 dreamies s. Larry, thank you for being a voice of reason ... you help this American get through her days. This led to Conservative MP Alan Clark using a parliamentary question to ask Mr Blair to outline what "steps were taken by Cabinet Office staff to establish the state of health of Humphrey the cat, prior to his departure from Downing Street". Much like the Queen, Larry has had to work with many a Prime Minister, including David Cameron and Theresa May. Larry the cat has been seen with his haunches raised, clearly uneasy around Palmerston. [21], In August 2016, Sir Alistair Graham, former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, responded to controversy over favouritism in Cameron's Dissolution Honours List by joking that he was "surprised Larry the cat didn't get one". It was reported that Cameron objected to cat hair on his suit, and the smell of cat food had to be disguised by air freshener when Downing Street had visitors. In 2016, Palmerston—a black-and-white tuxedo cat named after 19th-century Prime Minister Lord Palmerston—was hired as the Foreign & Commonwealth Office's Chief Mouser. Picture: PA Asked about Larry, Mr Javid admitted: "Larry is a bit territorial, I've got to say. In 2014, Osborne brought in a pet dog, Lola. Larry the cat is staying put; Larry barred from PM's flat; In fact, Larry was nearly fired in 2012 when Cameron spotted a mouse in his study and Larry failed to lift a paw or even wake up. [28] Although known for getting along from time to time, the two cats have fought on numerous occasions. In a 2016 interview with the Sunday Times, Theresa May said she was "very happy to see Larry", but hinted she was more of a dog person after growing up with them at home. Biden apologises over troops sleeping in car park, Trump impeachment trial delayed until next month, Wuhan marks its anniversary with triumph and denial, Covid hand-outs: How other countries pay if you are sick, Your guide to avoiding lockdown back and shoulder pain, From cult hit to lockdown sensation: Call My Agent! 0:41. The answer is yes - Larry will continue to loll about on Downing Street for years to come. Adopted in 2011 from the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Larry was brought to the Prime Minister's Office to combat a … VideoHow Joe Biden's ancestral Irish home is celebrating, Islamic State tries to shore up relevance with Iraq carnage, Uganda's leader overcomes 'people power' - for now, Stunt king to the stars who fell to Covid, .css-1ty7601-HeadlineContainer{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;width:100%;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.375rem;}.css-ftbx47-Heading{width:100%;}Biden apologises over troops sleeping in car park.css-2nuv1h-Rank{font-size:1.5rem;line-height:1.75rem;font-weight:normal;padding-left:0.75rem;color:#B80000;}@media (min-width:37.5rem){.css-2nuv1h-Rank{font-size:2rem;line-height:2.25rem;}}1, New light shed on Darwin's 'abominable mystery'2, Hundreds detained at Navalny protests in Russia4, Trudeau conveys pipeline 'disappointment' to Biden5, EU vaccine woes mount as new delays emerge6, Wuhan marks its anniversary with triumph and denial7, Stunt king to the stars who fell to Covid8, Iran's leader threatens to attack golfing Trump9, Trump impeachment trial delayed until next month10. Larry was honoured with a blue plaque at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in October 2012. Foreign Secretary, William Hague later asked that the barrier be taken down. Larry the Cat has the title Chief Mouser and has seen off two Prime Ministers Credit: Reuters Who is Larry the Cat and what is his role? Larry is the only Chief Mouser listed on the official web site for Number 10. [25] Freya was reported to be the more dominant cat and more effective mouser, reportedly because her days as a stray had "hardened" her. The cute brown and white tabby who has now served under both May and David Cameron, having arrived in 2011 as chief mouser, was carried off just a few minutes before the PM emerged. Could the PM's new pooch mean goodbye to Larry the cat? But the chief mouser is likely to be more interested in the ongoing turf war between him and his Foreign Office rival, Palmerston. [16], David Cameron has said that Larry is a "bit nervous" around men, speculating that, since Larry was a rescue cat, this may be due to negative experiences in his past. He's a good cat… Shared on Facebook. Section BBC News. Larry the Downing Street cat throws diplomatic shade under Trump’s limo. [3] In 2012, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home revealed that Larry's popularity had resulted in a surge of 15% more people adopting cats. Up Next. Larry, Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, has been cat-napping on the job, reports the Daily Mail. Trending petitions. Thousands of supporters of the jailed opposition leader defy a protest ban to attend nationwide rallies. Multiple fights have broken out in front of cameras on Downing Street, with.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:link{color:#3F3F42;}.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:visited{color:#696969;}.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:link,.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:visited{font-weight:700;border-bottom:1px solid #BABABA;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:link:hover,.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:visited:hover,.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:link:focus,.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:visited:focus{border-bottom-color:currentcolor;border-bottom-width:2px;color:#B80000;}@supports (text-underline-offset:0.25em){.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:link,.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:visited{border-bottom:none;-webkit-text-decoration:underline #BABABA;text-decoration:underline #BABABA;-webkit-text-decoration-thickness:1px;text-decoration-thickness:1px;-webkit-text-decoration-skip-ink:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;text-underline-offset:0.25em;}.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:link:hover,.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:visited:hover,.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:link:focus,.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:visited:focus{-webkit-text-decoration-color:currentcolor;text-decoration-color:currentcolor;-webkit-text-decoration-thickness:2px;text-decoration-thickness:2px;color:#B80000;}} security guards having to step in to rescue Palmerston in October 2016. 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. In a career spanning 13 years, Wilberforce served under four prime ministers from Edward Heath through to Margaret Thatcher. With many outgoing prime ministers in their final days often rewarding or knighting members of their loyal staff, perhaps a chance to repair the relationship still remains. [22], In June 2019, in what was described in the press as a photobombing, Larry was visible on the window ledge outside Number 10 as Theresa May and her husband Philip May posed with U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump at the start of Trump's state visit to the United Kingdom; he later sheltered from the rain under Trump's armoured Cadillac and could not be coaxed out, leading Jon Sopel of the BBC to tweet: "BREAKING: anti-Trump demonstrators fail to stop @realDonaldTrump motorcade, but @Number10cat does". Battersea Dogs & Cats Home offered to negotiate a deal with Larry. Since 2011, the ‘Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office’, has, you guessed it, been chasing mice and rats away from the Prime Minister’s official residence. [10] In October 2013, Larry caught four mice in two weeks and one staff member rescued a mouse from his clutches. The longest-serving prime ministerial cat was Wilberforce, who was resident at No. But … The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Larry the cat is the 12th 'chief mouser' of the Cabinet Office. Larry was the first cat to hold the appointment since stalwart ratter Humphrey was retired in 1997. 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". THIS is the hilarious moment Larry the Downing Street cat photobombed the news as he demanded to be let in to No10. [13] The Labour Party has confirmed that in the event of a Labour government, Larry would remain as Chief Mouser. Video, How Joe Biden's ancestral Irish home is celebrating, New light shed on Darwin's 'abominable mystery', Trudeau conveys pipeline 'disappointment' to Biden, EU vaccine woes mount as new delays emerge, Iran's leader threatens to attack golfing Trump, security guards having to step in to rescue Palmerston in October 2016. Coral’s David Stevens said: “In these times of unprecedented political upheaval, the fate of Larry the cat provides some much-needed light relief. Larry The Cat. No removal van needed for our Larry, his worldly goods are already there. It's been speculated the Prime Minister is hoping to get a dog for 10 Downing Street. Larry the Downing Street cat has again reassured Britain that he is now running the country. A police officer guarding the … [30] In July of that year, Palmerston entered Number 10 and had to be forcibly evicted by security staff. In 2011, Larry was banned from the Prime Minister's quarters in 10 Downing Street as his fur was ruining the Prime Minister's fresh suits. Obama gave him a stroke and he was all right with Obama. The cute brown and white tabby who has now served under both May and David Cameron, having … .css-14iz86j-BoldText{font-weight:bold;}As the new PM walks into Number 10 he will be greeted with applause by Downing Street staff - but there is one employee who is notoriously hard to impress. [2] 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". Larry was selected by former Conservative PM … In his response, the prime minister explained that he was sent away due to worries about the "general deterioration in his condition". British Prime Minister David Cameron has made a major cabinet move: he fired his pet cat. [38] His lack of killer instinct also earned him the nickname "Lazy Larry" by the tabloid press. [38] In September 2012, Freya was appointed to share the role of Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office. She did note there were parts of Number 10 where Larry "rules the roost" with certain seats he expects to sit on. Cameras set up outside Downing Street awaiting press conferences by the PM often capture Larry lounging in the sun on the cobblestones or bathing himself at the front door. "Number 10 cat Larry loses collar in 'most brutal fight yet' with Foreign Office's Palmerston", "Will Larry cope with Dilyn in Downing Street? Chief Mousers in the past have overlapped, or been phased in – though the position can and has remained vacant for extended periods of time. Alastair Grant / AP July 12, 2016, 12:38 PM UTC / Updated July 12, 2016, 2:01 PM UTC Assuming office inside 10 Downing Street on February 15th 2011 Larry the Cat is the Chief Mouser to the Cabinet. [26] In November 2014, Freya left Downing Street, leaving Larry with the sole mousing responsibility.[27]. Soon after he was taken in at Downing Street, a story ran in the press claiming that Larry was a lost cat and that the original owner had started a campaign to retrieve him. Freya and Larry were reported to have rapidly established cordial relations, although the two cats had been seen fighting. Cameron mentioned that Barack Obama is an apparent exception to this fear: he said, "Funnily enough he liked Obama. Created with Sketch. Like Larry… [37] Larry was almost fired from his position in 2012, when he failed to react to a mouse spotted in Cameron's study. B efore and after the election, he was seen trotting around … "Sadly, I cannot take Larry with me - he belongs to the house and the staff love him very much, as do I.". The Daily Telegraph suggested that Cameron never really liked cats but that spin doctors believed Larry could make the PM appear more friendly. [15] In February 2013, a cat-proof barrier was erected to prevent Larry and his neighbour Freya from getting into the Foreign Office, after complaints from staff members with allergies. Larry the Cat, the “Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office” who has lived at 10 Downing Street for eight years, could soon get the boot — as new UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to get a dog. 02/15/2011 01:11 pm ET Updated Dec 06, 2017 'Chief Mouser,' Larry The Cat, Moves In With British Prime Minister David Cameron (VIDEO) DAVID STRINGER (Scroll down for video.) mirror [37] At one point in 2011, mice were so endemic in Downing Street that the Prime Minister, David Cameron, resorted to throwing a fork at one during a Cabinet dinner. So how have previous PMs warmed to their four-legged civil servant over the years? Back to top Alert abuse Link here Permalink. Before Larry took up occupation, black tabby Sybil - named after the Fawlty Towers character - briefly stalked the streets of Downing Street. 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