Larry (cat) explained

Larry
Office:Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office
Status:Incumbent
Term Start:15 February 2011
Term Label:Assumed role
Residence:10 Downing Street
Alongside:Freya (2012–2014)
Predecessor:Sybil (2009)
Birth Place:London, England
Awards:Blue plaque at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home (2012)

Larry (born) is a British domestic tabby cat who has been Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office at 10 Downing Street since 2011. He is cared for by Downing Street staff, and is not the personal property of the prime minister of the United Kingdom. Larry has lived at 10 Downing Street during the premierships of six prime ministers: David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer.

Early life

Larry was born as a stray cat around January 2007 and later came into the possession of the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. In 2011, he was adopted by Downing Street staff, initially intended to be a pet for Cameron’s children.[1] He was described by Downing Street sources as a "good ratter" and as having "a high chase-drive and hunting instinct".[2] In 2012, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home said that Larry's publicity had resulted in a 15% increase in cat adoptions.[3]

Soon after he was taken in at Downing Street, a story circulated in the press purporting that Larry was a lost cat and that the original owner had begun a campaign to retrieve him.[4] However, the story was later found to be a hoax, and no such owner nor campaign existed.[5]

Career

Official duties

The Downing Street website describes Larry's duties as "greeting guests to the house, inspecting security defences and testing antique furniture for napping quality". It says he is "contemplating a solution to the mouse occupancy of the house" and has told Downing Street that such a solution is still in the "tactical planning stage".[6] Unlike his predecessors since 1929, Larry's costs are funded voluntarily by members of staff.[7] Fundraising events to pay for his food are believed to have included a quiz night, held in the state rooms.[8] David Cameron explained during his final Prime Minister's Questions in 2016 that Larry is a civil servant and not personal property, and would therefore not leave Downing Street after his successor took office.[9] Larry has retained his position through May, Johnson, Truss, Sunak, and Starmer ministries.

Work as chief mouser

Within a month of his arrival at Downing Street, anonymous sources described Larry as having "a distinct lack of killer instinct."[10] Later that year, it was revealed that Larry spent more time sleeping than hunting for mice, and shared the company of a female cat, Maisie.[11] At one point in 2011, mice were so endemic in Downing Street that the Prime Minister, David Cameron, resorted to throwing a fork at one during a Cabinet dinner. His lack of killer instinct also earned him the nickname "Lazy Larry" by the tabloid press.[12] He made his first known kill, a mouse, on 22 April 2011.[13] On 28 August 2012, Larry made his first public killing, dropping his prey on the lawn in front of Number 10.[14] In September 2012, Freya was also appointed the role of Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office. In October 2013, Larry caught four mice in two weeks and one staff member rescued a mouse from his clutches.[15]

In July 2015, George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Cabinet Office minister Matt Hancock cornered a mouse in the Chancellor's office, trapping it in a brown paper sandwich bag. The press joked that Osborne might take over the position of Chief Mouser.[16]

Health

In September 2023, The Sun reported that Larry had been in ill health for some time and that Downing Street staff were making preparations for his death.[17] A statement from Downing Street denied this and described Larry as "happy and healthy."[18]

Public image

Ahead of the July 2024 general election, an opinion poll from Ipsos showed that Larry had a higher favourability rating (44%) and net favorability rating (40%) than both then prime minister Rishi Sunak (22% and –36%) and current prime minister Keir Starmer (34% and –7%).[19]

Relationships with politicians

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 that Barack Obama is an apparent exception to this fear: he said, "Funnily enough he liked Obama. Obama gave him a stroke and he was all right with Obama."[20]

In September 2013, tensions were reportedly growing between Cameron and Larry. It was reported that Cameron objected to cat hair on his suit and the smell of cat food had to be disguised by air freshener when Downing Street had visitors. The Camerons were said not to like Larry, amid suggestions that the pet was a public relations prop. Cameron posted to Twitter saying that he and Larry got on "purr-fectly well". Nevertheless, bookmakers Ladbrokes made Cameron the odds-on (1/2) favourite to leave Downing Street first, with Larry as the 6/4 outsider. The Daily Telegraph suggested that Cameron had never liked cats but that spin doctors believed Larry could improve his public image.[21]

Former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has described an internal Downing Street security door which requires microphone contact for access as being increasingly "not for security but to keep the cats out from one end of the building to another".[22] When leaving office in 2016, Cameron spoke of his "sadness" that he could not take Larry with him.[23] [24] When Theresa May succeeded him in 2016, there were concerns that Larry was stressed and could be missing the Cameron family.In August 2016, Alistair Graham, former Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, responded to controversy over favouritism in Cameron's Dissolution Honours List by joking that he was "surprised Larry the cat didn't get one".[25] In June 2019, in what was described in the press as a photobombing, Larry was visible on the window ledge outside Number 10 as Theresa May and her husband Philip May posed with U.S. president Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the start of Trump's state visit to the United Kingdom; he later sheltered from the rain under Trump's presidential state car and was coaxed out only after some time.[26] [27]

Shortly after Rishi Sunak's surprise televised announcement of a general election, in the pouring rain, Larry was pictured on the live Downing St feed of the BBC waiting patiently for re-entry to No.10. While Sunak was noticeably drenched during the speech, Larry appeared to have avoided the downpour.[28]

Relationships with other animals

In June 2012, the chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne was reunited with his long lost cat Freya, who moved into 11 Downing Street. Freya and Larry were reported to have rapidly established cordial relations, although the two cats had been seen fighting.[29] Freya was reported to be the more dominant cat and more effective mouser, reportedly because her days as a stray had "hardened" her.[30] In November 2014, Freya left Downing Street, leaving Larry with the sole mousing responsibility.[31] In 2013 Osborne brought in a pet dog, Lola. Aides announced that Lola was "cat friendly".[32]

In September 2019, a new dog, Dilyn, owned by Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds, came to stay at Downing Street. Battersea Dogs & Cats Home offered to negotiate a deal with Larry. In December 2020, Larry stalked a pigeon outside Boris Johnson's official residence, and even managed to catch it. Despite the seemingly effective attack, the pigeon managed to fly off, apparently unharmed, after the brief scuffle. In October 2022, Larry chased away a fox from outside 10 Downing Street. The incident was captured on CCTV.[33]

In June 2021, the then chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak adopted a Labrador Retriever puppy named Nova to live at 11 Downing Street.[34] In September 2023, Akshata Murty, Sunak's wife, said that Larry and Nova had had "heated exchanges" where Larry had come out on top.[35]

During a personal interview on BBC Radio Derby in April 2024, then Leader of the Opposition Keir Starmer mentioned that the Starmer family have a rescue moggie called Jojo.[36] It is expected that like all prime ministerial families, Jojo would also reside at No. 10. Feline charity Cats Protection, has offered advice to the Starmer family on making the relationship cordial between the two residents.[37]

Rivalry with Palmerston

In April 2016, a new feline neighbour, Palmerston, moved into the Foreign Office.[38] Although known to get along from time to time, the two cats have fought on numerous occasions.[39] [40] The Leader of the House commented that he hoped that Palmerston and Larry would establish a modus vivendi.[41] In July of that year, Palmerston entered Number 10 and had to be forcibly evicted by security staff.[42] In September 2016, Lord Blencathra submitted a question in the House of Lords asking why the government did not pay for Larry's veterinary bill for an injury picked up in a fight against Palmerston, and whether the government would refund civil servants who paid for Larry's care.[43] Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen, the government's spokesperson in the Lords, said: "The costs were met by staff through voluntary staff donations due to their affection for Larry."

On 1 August 2016, according to the political photographer Steve Beck, Larry had his "most brutal fight yet" with Palmerston on the steps of Number 10.[44] During the fight, Larry lost his collar, whilst Palmerston suffered from several deep scratches and a badly cut ear.[44] When Palmerston "wrote" a letter announcing he was retiring and moving to the countryside on 7 August 2020, BBC News reported that Palmerston's "decidedly undiplomatic disputes [with Larry] are not thought to have hastened his departure".[45]

Awards and recognition

Larry was honoured with a blue plaque at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in October 2012.[46] The beetle species Caccothryptus larryi, first described in 2021, is named after him.[47]

In popular culture

A picture gallery to celebrate Larry's first two years in office was produced by The Daily Telegraph.[48] Larry's exploits and observations on life at Number 10 became the subject of a weekly cartoon in The Sunday Express drawn by cartoonist Ted Harrison.In 2012 Larry was visible on the Google Street View of Number 10, asleep next to the door.[49] A toy version of Larry is featured in the window of a mock version of 10 Downing Street as reproduced in the lobby of The Londoner casino in Macau.[50]

See also

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Glen Oglaza "The Cat's Whiskers", Sky News, 15 February 2011.
  2. News: Larry the cat to join David Cameron in Downing Street . 15 February 2011 . 15 February 2011 . BBC News . 15 February 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110215051459/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12460596 . live .
  3. Web site: Cunliffe . Mark . 24 July 2019 . Larry The Downing Street Cat: Will He Live With Boris Johnson at Number 10? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200326222612/https://www.ladbible.com/entertainment/latest-larry-the-downing-street-cat-will-he-live-with-boris-johnson-20190724 . 2020-03-26 . 16 February 2023 . LADBible.
  4. Web site: David Cameron 'stole cat for Number 10' . Nissim . Mayer . 23 February 2011 . Digital Spy . 23 February 2011 . 18 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221118025917/https://www.digitalspy.com/fun/a305449/number-10-cat-story-revealed-as-a-hoax/ . live .
  5. News: Churnalism or news? How PRs have taken over the media . Lewis . Paul . 23 February 2011 . The Guardian . 23 February 2011 . London . 28 February 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140228205155/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/feb/23/churnalism-pr-media-trust . live .
  6. Web site: History: 10 Downing Street. Gov.UK. 14 July 2016. 1 September 2013. https://archive.today/20130901101847/https://www.gov.uk/government/history/10-downing-street%23emergence-of-downing-street#larry-chief-mouser. live.
  7. News: Larry the cat is installed as Downing Street Chief Mouser . Prince . Rosa . 15 February 2011 . . 13 September 2011 . London . 11 April 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110411142637/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/8326293/Larry-the-cat-is-installed-as-Downing-Street-Chief-Mouser.html . live .
  8. News: Larry the cat fundraiser quiz night to be held at No 10 . Maev . Kennedy . The Guardian . 7 September 2011 . 13 September 2011 . London . 1 October 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131001015113/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/sep/07/larry-cat-quiz-downing-street . live .
  9. News: Millward . David . 9 August 2016 . David Cameron should save Larry the cat from his lonely life in Downing Street . The Daily Telegraph . 2 April 2018 . 6 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170806180513/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/09/david-cameron-should-save-larry-the-cat-from-his-lonely-life-in/ . live .
  10. News: Prince . Rosa . 28 February 2011 . Downing Street defends Larry the cat from anonymous briefing . dead . https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20110311003003/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/8350377/Downing-Street-defends-Larry-the-cat-from-anonymous-briefing.html . 11 March 2011 . 28 February 2011 . The Daily Telegraph . London.
  11. News: 15 November 2011 . Downing Street cat Larry caught napping . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20181019001540/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15733365 . 19 October 2018 . 20 July 2018 . BBC News.
  12. News: A softer side of government: How Larry the cat became a purr-fect political companion on Downing Street CBC News . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170206161245/http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/larry-chief-mouser-downing-street-1.3932276 . 6 February 2017 . 20 November 2018 . CBC . en-US.
  13. News: Stratton . Allegra . 24 April 2011 . Larry the No 10 cat catches first mouse ... finally . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170806142906/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/apr/24/larry-no10-cat-first-mouse . 6 August 2017 . 10 June 2017 . The Guardian . London.
  14. News: 28 August 2012 . Larry the Downing Street cat finally kills first rodent . https://web.archive.org/web/20210610135539/http://www.itv.com/news/2012-08-28/larry-the-downing-street-cat-finally-kills-first-rodent/ . 10 June 2021 . ITV News.
  15. News: Andy McSmith's Diary: Even Larry the cat is not safe from factions in Downing Street . London . The Independent . Andy . McSmith . 18 October 2013 . 15 December 2017 . 6 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170806143300/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/andy-mcsmiths-diary-even-larry-the-cat-is-not-safe-from-factions-in-downing-street-8890376.html . live .
  16. Web site: 2 senior UK ministers hunt down rat during budget meeting. 5 July 2015. dna. 15 March 2016. 4 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160704100148/http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-2-senior-uk-ministers-hunt-down-rat-during-budget-meeting-2101968. live.
  17. News: Quinn . Chay . Downing Street's pet cat Larry in 'ill-health' as officials plan protocol in case of chief mouser's death . 24 September 2023 . lbc.co.uk . 23 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230924012519/https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/larry-downing-street-ill/ . 24 September 2023.
  18. News: 25 September 2023 . Larry the Cat 'happy and healthy' after reports that he was seriously unwell . . 25 September 2023.
  19. News: Larry the cat has higher favourability rankings than either Rishi Sunak or Keir Starmer. Ipsos. 4 July 2024. 5 July 2024.
  20. News: Number 10 cat Larry catches three mice . 20 June 2011 . BBC News . 20 June 2011 . 23 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110623064752/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13845025 . live .
  21. News: David Cameron's worst lie is finally revealed: Larry the cat. 12 July 2016. James. Kirkup. Daily Telegraph. 12 July 2016. 12 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160712115505/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/12/david-camerons-worst-lie-is-finally-revealed-larry-the-cat/. live.
  22. News: There is a special door for cats in Downing Street, Nick Clegg confirms . The Daily Telegraph . 2 April 2018 . 28 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191228070247/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/27/there-is-a-special-door-for-cats-in-downing-street-nick-clegg-co/ . live .
  23. News: Steven . Swinford . David Cameron: I do love Larry the cat and I can prove it . Daily Telegraph . 13 July 2016 . 2 April 2018 . 13 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180813165402/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/13/david-cameron-i-do-love-larry-the-cat-and-i-can-prove-it/ . live .
  24. News: Heather . Saul . David Cameron: The surprising description of him that he 'hated' . The Independent . 13 July 2016 . 15 December 2017 . 6 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170806143624/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/david-cameron-chillax-chillaxing-chillaxed-description-complain-francis-elliot-times-angry-birds-a7134361.html . live .
  25. News: People are outraged Larry the Cat isn't on David Cameron's honours list. The Daily Telegraph. August 2016. Horton. Helena. 2 April 2018. 19 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181119030244/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/01/people-are-outraged-larry-the-cat-isnt-on-david-camerons-honours/. live.
  26. News: Alex . Horton . Larry the Downing Street cat parks himself under Trump limo . https://web.archive.org/web/20190726151507/https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Larry-the-Downing-Street-cat-parks-himself-under-13933273.php . 26 July 2019 . The Washington Post . San Francisco Chronicle . 4 June 2019 .
  27. News: Moran . Lee . Larry the Downing Street Cat Goes All Passive-Aggressive on Donald Trump . Huffington Post . 4 June 2019 . 5 June 2019 . 5 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190605093641/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-london-state-visit-larry-cat_n_5cf661cbe4b0e8085e40893e . live .
  28. Web site: Anglesey . Anders . 2024-05-22 . Sunak's General Election announcement hijacked by fan favourite Larry the cat . 2024-07-06 . The Mirror . en.
  29. News: Prince . Rosa . Police called to break up violent cat fight in Downing Street . The Daily Telegraph . 16 October 2012 . London . 2 April 2018 . 26 January 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180126065602/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/9611897/Police-called-to-break-up-violent-cat-fight-in-Downing-Street.html . live .
  30. News: Parkinson . Justin . Downing Street denies Cameron and Osborne cat feud . 16 October 2012 . BBC News . 16 October 2012 . 18 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121018033242/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19967916 . live .
  31. Web site: George Osborne's family cat Freya sent away from Downing Street to Kent. Lizzie. Dearden. 9 November 2014. The Independent. 15 March 2016. 22 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141122221341/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/george-osbornes-family-cat-freya-sent-away-from-downing-street-to-kent-9849853.html. live.
  32. Web site: Lola the dog joins George Osborne in Downing Street . BBC News . 24 September 2023.
  33. News: Larry the cat takes on fox outside No 10 . . Jamie . Grierson . 11 October 2022 . 11 October 2022 . 11 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221011071421/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/oct/11/larry-the-cat-fox-no-10-downing-street-chief-mouser-pm . live .
  34. News: Chancellor Rishi Sunak introduces his new dog Nova . 24 September 2023 . Sky News . 1 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230922110801/https://news.sky.com/story/chancellor-rishi-sunak-introduces-his-new-dog-nova-12346034 . 22 September 2023.
  35. News: Akshata Murty gives update on Larry the Cat in first interview about life at Downing Street . 24 September 2023 . Sky News . 22 September 2023.
  36. Web site: Keir Starmer Instagram . 2024-07-05 . www.instagram.com.
  37. Web site: Tips to help new Downing Street cat Press Release Cats Protection . 2024-07-05 . www.cats.org.uk . en.
  38. News: Palmerston the cat arrives for work at the Foreign Office. Helena. Horton. 13 April 2016. The Daily Telegraph. 1 May 2016. 26 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160426234745/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/13/palmerston-the-cat-arrives-for-work-at-the-foreign-office/. live. subscription.
  39. News: Larry the cat makes Whitehall comeback after vet repairs his battle wounds. The Daily Telegraph. 2 April 2018. 27 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180927204226/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/25/larry-the-cat-makes-whitehall-comeback-after-vet-repairs-his-bat/. live.
  40. News: Tensions grow between Larry and Palmerston as UK in government limbo. Horton. Helena. 13 June 2017. The Telegraph. 20 November 2018. en-GB. 0307-1235. 20 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181120221138/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/13/tensions-grow-larry-palmerston-uk-government-limbo/. live.
  41. Web site: Limping Larry the cat treated by vet amid 'fracas' with rival Palmerston . https://web.archive.org/web/20160726134339/http://home.bt.com/news/odd-news/limping-larry-the-cat-treated-by-vet-amid-fracas-with-rival-palmerston-11364074846880 . 26 July 2016 . . 21 July 2016.
  42. News: The Daily Telegraph. Cabinet office 'to appoint cat called Cromwell as Chief Mouser'. 3 August 2016. 3 August 2016. Horton, Helena. 4 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160804172727/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/03/cabinet-office-set-to-appoint-cat-called-cromwell-as-chief-mouse/. live.
  43. News: Tim . Ross . Fur flies in the House of Lords as peer asks: 'Who pays for Larry the Cat?' . The Daily Telegraph . 17 September 2016 . 2 April 2018 . 27 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180927204203/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/17/fur-flies-in-the-house-of-lords-as-peer-asks-who-pays-for-larry/ . live .
  44. News: Helena . Horton . Number 10 cat Larry loses collar in 'most brutal fight yet' with Foreign Office's Palmerston . The Daily Telegraph . 1 August 2016 . 2 April 2018 . 20 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180220003539/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/01/larry-loses-collar-in-most-brutal-fight-yet-with-palmerston/ . live . subscription.
  45. News: Parkinson. Justin. 7 August 2020. Foreign Office cat Palmerston retires to countryside. en-GB. BBC News. live. 7 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200807145235/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53692188. 7 August 2020.
  46. News: The home where the only pay is happiness . The Daily Telegraph . 14 October 2012 . London . 2 April 2018 . 28 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191228070248/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/british-volunteer-awards/9606760/The-home-where-the-only-pay-is-happiness.html . live .
  47. Matsumoto. Keita. 19 March 2021. Six new species of the genus Caccothryptus from the Himalayas (Coleoptera: Limnichidae). European Journal of Taxonomy. en. 739. 168–184–168–184. 10.5852/ejt.2021.739.1275. 233691616. 2118-9773. 30 December 2021. 30 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211230124147/https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/view/1275. live. free.
  48. News: In pictures: David Cameron's cat – Larry, Chief Mouser of Downing Street . The Daily Telegraph . 3 November 2012 . 3 November 2012 . London . 3 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201203102602/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/uknews/9612986/In-pictures-David-Camerons-cat-Larry-Chief-Mouser-of-Downing-Street.html#?frame=2370652 . live .
  49. Web site: Google Street View pays visit to U.K. prime minister . CNET . 30 July 2012 . 26 August 2014 . Whittaker, Zack . 26 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140826211958/http://www.cnet.com/uk/news/google-street-view-pays-visit-to-u-k-prime-minister/ . live .
  50. Web site: Londoner Macao Hotel Review Macau Casinos . 2024-05-23 . Maven of Macau . en-US.

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