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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Pol Allingham

Who is Larry the Cat? Beloved ‘chief mouser’ welcomes seventh prime minister

United States Andy Burnham David Cameron
  • Larry the Cat, the Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, has welcomed his seventh Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, to No 10 Downing Street, following Burnham's formal acceptance of King Charles's invitation to form a government.
  • At 19 years old, Larry has served for 15 years since his adoption from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in February 2011, initially as a pet for David Cameron's children, and has become a beloved fixture of British public life.
  • His official role involves controlling the rodent population at Downing Street, though his success has been debated, with his first recorded kill occurring in April 2011.
  • Larry is known for his interactions with other animals, having fought with Palmerston from the Foreign Office and Freya, George Osborne's cat, and had "heated exchanges" with Akshata Murty's Labrador puppy, Nova.
  • Despite Lord Cameron's observation that Larry is "not very keen on men," he notably got along well with US President Barack Obama and has been pictured in official records, including lurking on a windowsill during a visit by US President Donald Trump.

IN FULL

Larry the cat celebrates 15 years at Downing Street

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