A rats to riches story: Larry the Downing Street cat finds place in TV spotlight
15 days ago
- #Downing Street
- #Larry the Cat
- #British Politics
- Larry the cat is the longest continuous resident of Downing Street, becoming a beloved constant in British politics.
- Adopted in 2011 to address a rodent problem, Larry holds the official title of Chief Mouser of the Cabinet Office.
- Larry's popularity is highlighted by his presence in a Channel 4 documentary and his large social media following.
- He is known for greeting guests, inspecting security, and napping on antique furniture.
- Larry has charmed world leaders like Barack Obama and Volodymyr Zelenskyy but clashed with others, including Theresa May.
- His public scraps with Palmerston, the Foreign Office cat, were notable but never intervened by police.
- Larry receives fan mail and gifts from around the world and has been featured in books and media.
- Despite criticism, Larry is not publicly funded; Downing Street staff voluntarily cover his expenses.