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Larry (cat)

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Larry
A cat with a red, white and blue bow tie.
Official portrait, 2016
Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office
Incumbent
Assumed role
15 February 2011
Serving with Freya (2012–2014)
Monarchs
Prime Minister
See list
Preceded bySybil (2009)
Personal details
Bornc. January 2007 (age 17)
London, England
Residence(s)10 Downing Street, London
Occupation
  • Mouser
  • civil servant
AwardsBlue plaque at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home (2012)

Larry (born c. January 2007) is a British domestic tabby cat who has been Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office at 10 Downing Street since 2011. He is cared for by Downing Street staff, and is not the personal property of the prime minister of the United Kingdom. Larry has lived at 10 Downing Street during the premierships of six prime ministers: David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer.

Early life

Larry was born as a stray cat around January 2007 and later came into the possession of the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. In 2011, he was adopted by Downing Street staff, initially intended to be a pet for Cameron’s children.[1] He was described by Downing Street sources as a "good ratter" and as having "a high chase-drive and hunting instinct".[2] In 2012, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home said that Larry's publicity had resulted in a 15% increase in cat adoptions.[3]

Soon after he was taken in at Downing Street, a story circulated in the press purporting that Larry was a lost cat and that the original owner had begun a campaign to retrieve him.[4] However, the story was later found to be a hoax, and no such owner nor campaign existed.[5]

Career

Official duties

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".[6] Unlike his predecessors since 1929, Larry's costs are funded voluntarily by members of staff with no cost to public funds.[7][8] Fundraising events to pay for his food are believed to have included a quiz night, held in the state rooms.[9] David Cameron explained during his final Prime Minister's Questions in 2016 that Larry is a civil servant and not personal property, and would therefore not leave Downing Street after his successor took office.[10] Larry has retained his position through May, Johnson, Truss, Sunak, and Starmer ministries.

Work as chief mouser

Within a month of his arrival at Downing Street, anonymous sources described Larry as having "a distinct lack of killer instinct."[11] Later that year, it was revealed that Larry spent more time sleeping than hunting for mice, and shared the company of a female cat, Maisie.[12] 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.[12] His lack of killer instinct also earned him the nickname "Lazy Larry" by the tabloid press.[13] He made his first known kill, a mouse, on 22 April 2011.[14] On 28 August 2012, Larry made his first public killing, dropping his prey on the lawn in front of Number 10.[15] In September 2012, Freya was also appointed the role of Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office. In October 2013, Larry caught four mice in two weeks and one staff member rescued a mouse from his clutches.[16]

In July 2015, George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Cabinet Office minister Matt Hancock cornered a mouse in the Chancellor's office, trapping it in a brown paper sandwich bag. The press joked that Osborne might take over the position of Chief Mouser.[17]

Health

In September 2023, The Sun reported that Larry had been in ill health for some time and that Downing Street staff were making preparations for his death.[18] A statement from Downing Street denied this and described Larry as "happy and healthy."[19]

In August 2024 it was reported staff at Downing Street had begun preparing plans for how to announce Larry’s death to the world. It was however stated Larry was still doing just fine.[20]

Public image

Ahead of the July 2024 general election, an opinion poll from Ipsos showed that Larry had a higher favourability rating (44%) and net favorability rating (40%) than both prime minister Rishi Sunak (22% and –36%) and chief opposition leader Keir Starmer (34% and –7%).[21]

Relationships with politicians

Larry with Prime Minister David Cameron and U.S. president Barack Obama

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. Cameron mentioned that Barack Obama is an apparent exception to this fear: he said, "Funnily enough he liked Obama. Obama gave him a stroke and he was all right with Obama."[22]

In September 2013, tensions were reportedly growing between Cameron and Larry. 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. The Camerons were said not to like Larry, amid suggestions that the pet was a public relations prop. Cameron posted to Twitter saying that he and Larry got on "purr-fectly well". Nevertheless, bookmakers Ladbrokes made Cameron the odds-on (1/2) favourite to leave Downing Street first, with Larry as the 6/4 outsider. The Daily Telegraph suggested that Cameron had never liked cats but that spin doctors believed Larry could improve his public image.[23]

Former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has described an internal Downing Street security door which requires microphone contact for access as being increasingly "not for security but to keep the cats out from one end of the building to another".[24] When leaving office in 2016, Cameron spoke of his "sadness" that he could not take Larry with him.[25][26] When Theresa May succeeded him in 2016, there were concerns that Larry was stressed and could be missing the Cameron family.[27]

Larry (left) lies on the window of 10 Downing Street, during the visit of U.S. president Donald Trump

In August 2016, 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".[28] 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 First Lady Melania Trump at the start of Trump's state visit to the United Kingdom; he later sheltered from the rain under Trump's presidential state car and was coaxed out only after some time.[29][30]

Shortly after Rishi Sunak's surprise televised announcement of a general election, in the pouring rain, Larry was pictured on the live Downing St feed of the BBC waiting patiently for re-entry to No.10. While Sunak was noticeably drenched during the speech, Larry appeared to have avoided the downpour.[31]

Relationships with other animals

In June 2012, the chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne was reunited with his long lost cat Freya, who moved into 11 Downing Street. Freya and Larry were reported to have rapidly established cordial relations, although the two cats had been seen fighting.[32] Freya was reported to be the more dominant cat and more effective mouser, reportedly because her days as a stray had "hardened" her.[33] In November 2014, Freya left Downing Street, leaving Larry with the sole mousing responsibility.[34] In 2013 Osborne brought in a pet dog, Lola. Aides announced that Lola was "cat friendly".[35]

Larry with Boris Johnson in 2019

In September 2019, a new dog, Dilyn, owned by Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds, came to stay at Downing Street. Battersea Dogs & Cats Home offered to negotiate a deal with Larry.[36] In December 2020, Larry stalked a pigeon outside Boris Johnson's official residence, and even managed to catch it. Despite the seemingly effective attack, the pigeon managed to fly off, apparently unharmed, after the brief scuffle.[37] In October 2022, Larry chased away a fox from outside 10 Downing Street. It was reported that the fox was nearly twice his size.[38] The incident was captured on CCTV.[39]

In June 2021, the then chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak adopted a Fox Red Labrador puppy named Nova to live at 11 Downing Street.[40] In September 2023, Akshata Murty, Sunak's wife, said that Larry and Nova had had "heated exchanges" where Larry had come out on top.[41]

During a personal interview on BBC Radio Derby in April 2024, then Leader of the Opposition Keir Starmer mentioned that the Starmer family have a rescue moggie called Jojo.[42] It is expected that like all prime ministerial families, Jojo would also reside at Number 10. Feline charity Cats Protection, has offered advice to the Starmer family on making the relationship cordial between the two residents.[43] On 2 September 2024, BBC Radio 5 Live's Matt Chorley revealed that he has been briefed that another cat, a Siberian kitten has joined the Starmer household. Originally the children wanted a German Shepherd dog, but were persuaded with another cat due to the difficulty with the inside front door of the Number 10 flat.[44] Later that month, in an interview with Laura Kuenssberg, Starmer revealed that the kitten's name is Prince and is white with blue eyes.[45]

Rivalry with Palmerston

Larry sleeping in the window of 10 Downing Street

In April 2016, a new feline neighbour, Palmerston, moved into the Foreign Office.[46] Although known to get along from time to time, the two cats have fought on numerous occasions.[27][47] The Leader of the House commented that he hoped that Palmerston and Larry would establish a modus vivendi.[48] In July of that year, Palmerston entered Number 10 and had to be forcibly evicted by security staff.[49] 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.[50] Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen, the government's spokesperson in the Lords, said: "The costs were met by staff through voluntary staff donations due to their affection for Larry."

On 1 August 2016, according to the political photographer Steve Beck, Larry had his "most brutal fight yet" with Palmerston on the steps of Number 10.[51] During the fight, Larry lost his collar, whilst Palmerston suffered from several deep scratches and a badly cut ear.[51] When Palmerston "wrote" a letter announcing he was retiring and moving to the countryside on 7 August 2020, BBC News reported that Palmerston's "decidedly undiplomatic disputes [with Larry] are not thought to have hastened his departure".[52]

Larry at the door of 10 Downing Street, his official residence and workplace

Awards and recognition

Larry was honoured with a blue plaque at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in October 2012.[53] The beetle species Caccothryptus larryi, first described in 2021, is named after him.[54]

A picture gallery to celebrate Larry's first two years in office was produced by The Daily Telegraph.[55] Larry's exploits and observations on life at Number 10 became the subject of a weekly cartoon in The Sunday Express drawn by cartoonist Ted Harrison.[13] In 2012 Larry was visible on the Google Street View of Number 10, asleep next to the door.[56] A toy version of Larry is featured in the window of a mock version of 10 Downing Street as reproduced in the lobby of The Londoner casino in Macau.[57]

See also

References

  1. ^ Glen Oglaza "The Cat's Whiskers" Archived 18 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Sky News, 15 February 2011.
  2. ^ "Larry the cat to join David Cameron in Downing Street". BBC News. 15 February 2011. Archived from the original on 15 February 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  3. ^ Cunliffe, Mark (24 July 2019). "Larry The Downing Street Cat: Will He Live With Boris Johnson at Number 10?". LADBible. Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  4. ^ Nissim, Mayer (23 February 2011). "David Cameron 'stole cat for Number 10'". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 18 November 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
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  6. ^ "History: 10 Downing Street". Gov.UK. Archived from the original on 1 September 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
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  8. ^ FOI Reference: FOI326318, released as part of a response from Cabinet Office to a request made using WhatDoTheyKnow, accessed 24 August 2024.
  9. ^ Kennedy, Maev (7 September 2011). "Larry the cat fundraiser quiz night to be held at No 10". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 1 October 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
  10. ^ Millward, David (9 August 2016). "David Cameron should save Larry the cat from his lonely life in Downing Street". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
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  31. ^ Anglesey, Anders (22 May 2024). "Sunak's General Election announcement hijacked by fan favourite Larry the cat". The Mirror. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  32. ^ Prince, Rosa (16 October 2012). "Police called to break up violent cat fight in Downing Street". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  33. ^ Parkinson, Justin (16 October 2012). "Downing Street denies Cameron and Osborne cat feud". BBC News. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  34. ^ Dearden, Lizzie (9 November 2014). "George Osborne's family cat Freya sent away from Downing Street to Kent". The Independent. Archived from the original on 22 November 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  35. ^ "Lola the dog joins George Osborne in Downing Street". BBC News. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  36. ^ Andrew Kersley (2 September 2019), "Will Larry cope with Dilyn in Downing Street? Here's Battersea's advice on introducing dogs and cats", i, archived from the original on 18 November 2022, retrieved 15 September 2019
  37. ^ "Brexit tensions turn deadly as Larry the cat tries to kill pigeon", i, 24 December 2020, archived from the original on 25 December 2020, retrieved 26 December 2020
  38. ^ "Watch: Downing Street cat Larry takes on fox outside No10". Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  39. ^ Grierson, Jamie (11 October 2022). "Larry the cat takes on fox outside No 10". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 11 October 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  40. ^ "Chancellor Rishi Sunak introduces his new dog Nova". Sky News. 1 July 2021. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  41. ^ "Akshata Murty gives update on Larry the Cat in first interview about life at Downing Street". Sky News. 22 September 2023. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  42. ^ "Keir Starmer | Instagram". www.instagram.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
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  44. ^ Francis, Sam (2 September 2024). "Starmer family welcomes Siberian kitten to Downing Street". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  45. ^ Lynch, David (8 September 2024). "Starmer family's new Siberian kitten called Prince, Prime Minister reveals". Evening Standard. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  46. ^ Horton, Helena (13 April 2016). "Palmerston the cat arrives for work at the Foreign Office". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  47. ^ Horton, Helena (13 June 2017). "Tensions grow between Larry and Palmerston as UK in government limbo". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
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  49. ^ Horton, Helena (3 August 2016). "Cabinet office 'to appoint cat called Cromwell as Chief Mouser'". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  50. ^ Ross, Tim (17 September 2016). "Fur flies in the House of Lords as peer asks: 'Who pays for Larry the Cat?'". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 27 September 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  51. ^ a b Horton, Helena (1 August 2016). "Number 10 cat Larry loses collar in 'most brutal fight yet' with Foreign Office's Palmerston". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  52. ^ Parkinson, Justin (7 August 2020). "Foreign Office cat Palmerston retires to countryside". BBC News. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  53. ^ "The home where the only pay is happiness". The Daily Telegraph. London. 14 October 2012. Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  54. ^ Matsumoto, Keita (19 March 2021). "Six new species of the genus Caccothryptus from the Himalayas (Coleoptera: Limnichidae)". European Journal of Taxonomy (739): 168–184–168–184. doi:10.5852/ejt.2021.739.1275. ISSN 2118-9773. S2CID 233691616. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  55. ^ "In pictures: David Cameron's cat – Larry, Chief Mouser of Downing Street". The Daily Telegraph. London. 3 November 2012. Archived from the original on 3 December 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
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  57. ^ "Londoner Macao Hotel Review | Macau Casinos". Maven of Macau. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
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