The Chief Mouser is a much-loved fixture of No10 – but how will he fare as Andy Burnham enters No10, with the new PM possibly bringing along Axel, the family’s beloved dog
We may be on our seventh Prime Minister in a decade, but one constant figure remains firmly rooted in Downing Street.
Since 2011, Larry the cat has been Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office – and incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham is going to have to get on his good side.
When the new PM moves into No10 alongside his wife Marie-France van Heel, the couple will bring along their rescue dog Axel. However the Bichon-Poo’s arrival is unlikely to be met with enthusiasm by Downing Street’s long-standing feline resident.
According to the official Downing Street website, Larry’s duties include “greeting guests to the house, inspecting security defences and testing antique furniture for napping quality”.
“He has captured the hearts of the Great British public and the press teams often camped outside the front door. In turn the nation sends him gifts and treats daily. His day-to-day responsibilities also include contemplating a solution to the mouse occupancy of the house. Larry says this is still ‘in tactical planning stage’.”
Crucially, with a status closer to civil servant rather than a personal pet, Larry remains unaffected by leadership changes.
Born in 2007, the stray tabby was taken in by Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, before being adopted in 2011 by Downing Street staff. Though he was initially intended to be a pet for David Cameron‘s children, the ex-leader confirmed during his final Prime Minister’s Questions in 2016 that Larry would stay put.
Now 19 years old, Larry has outlasted six prime ministers since 2011: David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer. His upkeep is funded voluntarily by Downing Street staff, who hold regular fundraisers to pay for his food – costing the taxpayer nothing.
His brush and stash of cat crack (Dreamies) are stored in the Duke of Wellington’s chest of drawers inside the foyer of No10.
Over the years, Larry has shaken paws with world leaders such as Volodymyr Zelenskyy, though his relationships with humans has occasionally been frosty.
During a visit from Donald Trump back in 2019, Larry darted behind his £1.2 million armoured Cadillac, causing delays when the President couldn’t move the vehicle.
In 2011, David Cameron revealed to the BBC that Larry took a kinder approach to a different leader, saying: “Funnily enough, he liked Barack Obama. Obama gave him a stroke and he was all right with Obama.”
Reports suggested that Cameron disliked finding cat hair on his suits, and the smell of his food had to be disguised by air fresheners. Theresa May reportedly preferred dogs, while former Scotland Secretary Ian Murray once dubbed Larry a “little s***” after the cat refused to pose for a photo.
Larry has also seen plenty of four-legged allies and adversaries come and ho. His most famous feud was was a fierce turf rivalry with the Foreign Office’s cat Palmerston, who died in Bermuda earlier this year, four years after retiring.
“‘Palmy’ was a special member of the Government House team in Bermuda, and a much loved family member. He was a wonderful companion, with a gentle nature, and will be sorely missed,” a tribute said.
In 2016, the pair were spotted in a brawl outside No10 in 2016, with pictures showing Palmerston had a clump of hair missing, while Larry had to be treated for a sore paw. Larry also had spats with Rishi Sunak’s puppy, Nova. But feline foes aside, he had a warmer bond with former Chancellor George Osborne’s cat Freya.
In 2024, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said admitted he was trying to keep his family’s new Siberian kitten Prince away from the veteran mouser, telling This Morning: “Prince and Larry haven’t met yet. I am worried that Larry will come off the better – the kitten is tiny.”
Now, fans are wondering how Larry will cope with Burnham’s beloved family dog, Axel, a Bichon Frise and Poodle mix adopted from the Dog’s Trust. While the new PM is a known dog lover, it’s unclear whether he will relocate to No10 or stay at the family home in Manchester.
Fortunately, Larry is no stranger to canine housemates, having previously lived with Boris Johnson’s Jack Russell cross Dilyn and Rishi Sunak’s Labrador, Nova.
Introducing a dog into a home where a cat already lives can take time and patience according to Cats Protection. The charity has issued some advice to the Burnham family:
“Axel and Larry can form an effective pet coalition at 10 Downing Street if the introduction is handled right,” the website reads. “Mr Burnham might be tempted to take Axel with him on regular trips between Manchester and London but it is not advised to transport pets over long distances unless there is a strong welfare reason, such as a trip to the vet or it being a necessary part of ensuring an unwanted pet can go to a loving home.”
Larry’s enduring popularity has turned him into a media sensation. A dedicated parody account on X boasts over 900,000 followers, detailing life inside No 10 from Larry’s perspective. He also has a popular Instagram account, where he recently shared a World Cup snap, captioned ‘Declan Mice’.
His ongoing fame also saw him feature in a Channel 4 documentary presented by David Baddiel, titled: “David Baddiel: Cat Man” as he explored Britain’s love of cats.
Always immaculate with his timing, Larry frequently steps outside for a photo opportunity whenever news cameras gather on the cobbles.
“The minute something happens on the street, especially an official visit, like clockwork, he’ll be out the front,” a Downing Street source told the Guardian last year. “He loves the red carpet.”
Chief Mousers through history:
Larry is part of a long lineage of official Downing Street cats…
- Rufus – 1924/1929-1930
- Peter – 1929-1946
- Bob – 1937-1943
- Nelson – 1940-1944
- Peter II – 1946-1947
- Peter III – 1947-1964
- Peta – 1964-1976
- Wilberforce – 1973-1987
- Humphrey – 1989-1997
- Sybil – 2007-2008
- Larry – 2011-present
- Freya – 2012-2014