| Larry | |
|---|---|
| Larry with Rt Hon David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Barack Obama, President of the United States. | |
| Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 15th February 2011 |
|
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Sybil |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c.2006-2008 London, England |
| Occupation | Mouser |
Larry is the name of the current 10 Downing Street cat popularly known as the Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office.
A brown tabby, believed to be between three and five years old, Larry is a rescue cat from the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and was chosen by Downing Street staff.[1] Media speculation had raised the possibility of a new feline arriving in Downing Street after rats had been seen on two occasions behind television news correspondents reporting live, with a Downing Street "pro-cat faction" having apparently won the argument. The cat is also intended to be a pet for the children of David and Samantha Cameron.[2] He immediately courted controversy as whilst being asked to pose for a news item Larry lashed out at ITV News reporter Lucy Manning [3].
He has been described by Downing street sources as a "good ratter" and as having "a high chase-drive and hunting instinct".[4] Soon after he was taken in at Downing Street, a story ran in the press claiming that Larry was a lost cat and that the original owner had started a campaign to retrieve him.[5][6] However, the story later transpired to be a hoax, and no such owner or campaign existed.[7]
In late February 2011, it was reported that anonymous sources were briefing against Larry saying "there is a distinct lack of killer instinct."[8] However, a senior Downing Street spokesman said that it was too early to make judgements and that Larry hadn't even been taken to visit his main work area in case he ran away.[8] He finally made his first kill - a mouse - on Good Friday 2011.[9]
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 President Obama as an apparent exception to this fear saying, "Funnily enough he liked Obama. Obama gave him a stroke and he was all right with Obama."[10]
Unlike his predecessors since 1929, Larry's upkeep is not funded by tax payers but paid for by the staff of 10 Downing Street.[11] Fund raising events to pay for his food are believed to have included a quiz night for Downing Street staff held in the state rooms.[12] Larry's exploits and observations on life at Number 10 have now become the subject of a weekly cartoon in The Sunday Express drawn by cartoonist Ted Harrison.
In November 2011 Larry's position came under pressure, as it emerged that he was spending more time sleeping, and spending time in the company of a female cat, Maisie,[13] than actually hunting for mice. The cat's position was said to be 'unassailable', even though it emerged that the Prime Minister had resorted to throwing a piece of cutlery at a mouse during a cabinet dinner, in an ineffectual attempt to get rid of it.[14]
The Prime Minister's spokesman rejected calls for Larry's resignation, stating that "Larry brings a lot of pleasure to a lot of people".[15] On 16 November 2011 Larry courted further controversy by sleeping for several hours as the entire cabinet traipsed in and out of Downing Street for a meeting.[13] Larry's aides initially prevented photographers from taking pictures to prevent Larry further embarrassment, but later relented.[16]. On 27th November 2011 it was reported that Larry had been barred from the Prime Minister's quarters in 10 Downing Street.[17]
| Vacant
Title last held by
Sybil |
Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office 2011–present |
Incumbent |
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