Sir Keir Starmer buys Siberian kitten to reside along with his household

Larry had better watch out. The Prime Minister added a Siberian kitten to the Downing Street family yesterday in addition to the official mouser and his own family cat Jojo.

Sir Keir Starmer had promised his children a German Shepherd when they moved into Number 10.

But after intense negotiation over the summer, they were instead rewarded with the cat which was collected by his daughter yesterday.

The new addition to the Starmer family will take up residence with Jojo who moved with them from their home in north London and Larry, the resident mouser.

Speaking to Matt Chorley on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sir Keir Starmer said that the only issue was with installing a cat flap because the door to the Prime Minister’s flat is bomb-proof.

Sir Keir Starmer has bought a new Siberian kitten to live with his family at Downing Street

Despite promising his children a German Shepherd, Sir Keir purchased a Siberian kitten which was collected by his daughter yesterday (file photo)

The kitten will join Downing Street’s Chief Mouser Larry, who has previously fought with other cats

Larry fighting with Foreign Office Chief Mouser Palmerston, with whom he had a longstanding rivalry until 2019

Their confinement may be of some comfort to Larry, Downing St’s resident mouser, who is territorial and has fought with other cats.

Originating from Russia, Siberian cats have long and fluffy coats to protect from the cold. They are hypoallergenic, so compatible with those with allergies.

They are known for being dog-like, which may have helped lessen the blow of not getting a dog for Sir Keir’s children.

Sir Keir revealed during the election campaign that his children wanted a dog, with their sights set on a German Shepherd if they moved into Downing Street.

But there had been ‘a long summer of negotiations’ with a ‘back and forth’ over different options since his win in July, the PM said.

‘We are now getting a kitten instead of a dog,’ he said.

‘And this is an agreement after long negotiations – I said we’d get in the room and sort it out.’

The new kitten becomes the third cat living in Downing Street – joining Jojo the Starmer family cat and Larry, who has held the role since 2011.

However, Sir Keir said that getting a cat flap was proving ‘difficult’: ‘The problem we’ve got, which is the same for JoJo the cat, is that the only door out of our new flat is bomb proof,’ he said.

‘But our daughters persuaded us that the problem isn’t any bigger for two cats than one – and therefore, we’re now getting this kitten.’

Former prime minister Rishi Sunak taking a run with his Fox Fed Labrador Nova 

Boris Johnson kissing his Jack Russell Dilyn, who took up residence during his tenure

Cats Protection said: ‘Young kittens can be exhausting for older statesmen like Larry, so he’ll also need a safe, quiet area to retreat to when the energy of a younger member of the team gets a bit too much.’

The Downing Street pet has become a tradition for new residents.

Former prime minister Rishi Sunak bought Nova, a Fox Red Labrador, while his chancellor Jeremy Hunt moved in a labrador named Poppy.

Boris Johnson’s adopted Jack Russell Dilyn took up residence during his time in power.

During the war years, Sir Winston Churchill kept two cats, Nelson and Munich Mouser, and a poodle named Rufus at Downing Street.

Elsewhere in the interview, Sir Keir revealed that it was his 62nd birthday and that he hoped to take a holiday later in the year, probably at Christmas.

Asked by reporters how Starmer would be marking the event, his official spokesperson admitted: ‘Regrettably, I think we all forgot to wish him a happy birthday at the 08.30 this morning, which I feel a bit embarrassed about.’