Chief Mouser since 2011
For more than 15 years, Larry the Cat has been the most enduring resident of 10 Downing Street, outlasting seven Prime Ministers with his signature blend of feline diplomacy and strategic napping. As Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, he's more than a cat with an official title. He's a British institution, a social media personality, and one of Westminster's most recognizable residents.
Britain's only feline civil servant who has outlasted seven Prime Ministers.
Larry was born. He was later found as a stray in Wandsworth, south London.
He lived at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.
Larry moved into Downing Street under David Cameron’s premiership. Adopted by Downing Street staff, he was initially intended as a pet for Cameron’s children.
He is reported to have made his first successful mouse catch.
Cameron noted that Barack Obama was an apparent exception to Larry’s usual reserve: “Funnily enough he liked Obama. Obama gave him a stroke and he was all right with Obama.”
Larry made his first public killing, dropping his prey on the lawn in front of Number 10.
Freya, Chancellor George Osborne’s tabby, was also appointed Chief Mouser. Larry briefly shared duties with Freya until she left Downing Street in late 2014.
Larry was honored with a blue plaque at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
He continued serving through the Cameron years and became a familiar part of the political backdrop and already widely recognized around the famous black door.
According to political photographer Steve Beck, Larry had his “most brutal fight yet” with Palmerston, Chief Mouser of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, on the steps of Number 10. Larry lost his collar; Palmerston suffered deep scratches and a badly cut ear.
In the House of Lords, Baron Blencathra asked why the government did not pay Larry’s veterinary bill after the Palmerston fight. The government’s spokesperson said costs were met by staff through voluntary donations “due to their affection for Larry.”
In a widely shared “photobomb,” Larry appeared on the window ledge as Theresa May and Philip May posed with President Donald Trump and Melania Trump. He later sheltered from the rain under the presidential state car and was coaxed out only after some time.
Ahead of the 2024 general election, an Ipsos opinion poll showed Larry with a higher favorability and net favorability than both Sunak and Starmer.
Larry marks 15 years in the role.
Andy Burnham arrives at Number 10, Larry’s seventh Prime Minister. Since 2011 he has outlasted Cameron, May, Johnson, Truss, Sunak, and Starmer.
From a newly adopted mouser to one of Britain’s most recognizable cats, here’s Larry through the years.
Larry is never far from the headlines. Here are the latest moments from Downing Street’s longest-serving resident.
Larry shares his thoughts on life at Number 10 from time to time. As always, they’re delivered with impeccable timing.
On phones, open the posts below to read on X.
For more than a decade, photographers and reporters have captured Larry’s daily life outside Number 10, from diplomatic arrivals to afternoon naps.
Larry is the official Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, a role traditionally given to resident cats at government buildings to help control mice. While modern pest control has changed the practical side of the job, the position remains a beloved part of British political life.
Yes. Although his hunting record has occasionally been the subject of good-natured media debate, Larry has caught mice during his time at Downing Street. Like many working cats, his reputation includes both genuine successes and plenty of humorous exaggeration.
Larry is cared for by Downing Street staff rather than any individual Prime Minister. Unlike most pets at Number 10, he remains in the role when governments change.
Larry arrived in February 2011 during David Cameron’s premiership. Since then, he has served under seven Prime Ministers, making him the longest-serving resident of modern Downing Street.
Palmerston (RIP Palmy), the Foreign Office’s resident cat, worked just a short walk away. Their occasional encounters outside Downing Street became legendary, with several well-documented scuffles delighting photographers and earning widespread media coverage.
Yes. Larry lives at 10 Downing Street and is cared for by staff. Visitors often spot him lounging on the famous doorstep, inspecting official arrivals, or wandering around the Downing Street complex.
Explore more stories about Larry, the history of Chief Mousers, and other remarkable working cats.
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