Who Is Larry the Cat? History & Facts of the British Prime Ministers’ Feline

Larry the cat is somewhat British royalty, making quite an impact on the British Prime Ministers. Larry is a real icon! This white and tabby beauty has lived a long, lustrous life, mingling with the highest of the high government officials. How exactly did this happen? What exactly prompted this friendship between the British Prime Ministers and this adorable street cat? We have all the details.

Who Is Larry the Cat?

Larry the cat was once just a London stray without a prayer. He was discovered in January of 2007. He eventually was taken into possession by the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. He likely never thought he would wind up living in the lap of luxury, but his life took a turn of events.

Larry the Cat took on the valuable and irreplaceable role as Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office. He resides at the Prime Minister’s Office at 10 Downing Street in London, and has since 2011. Larry has lived quite a long time in this role, welcoming over six prime ministers: David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, and Keir Starmer.

Office Duties of Larry the Cat

You might wonder what exactly Larry does in a day's time. Apart from keeping the entire place on Downing Street fully free of mice and other varmints, he also brings great joy to the community and company to the people dwelling therein.

Larry is in charge of greeting guests, utilizing all of the furniture, and securing the perimeter from pesky pests. Interestingly, Larry remains a civil servant of Downing Street and not a personal pet. So, no one Prime Minister has rights to Larry.

Larry’s Efficiency

While Larry was deemed worthy of taking care of the potential mice and other critters in the building, it seems that maybe it's not his natural talent. Many observers will tell you that Larry pretty much lacks any kind of killer instinct whatsoever.

He is more of a reserved, laid back cat who enjoys a lackadaisical approach to life. Now in his ripe old age of 17, he especially doesn't really want to make much of a fuss chasing around furry critters. He much prefers time spent lazing about, enjoying his rather bougie lifestyle.

False Reports of Poor Health

Larry is advancing in years, and in September of 2023, rumors began to circulate about this handsome feline’s health. However, that simply wasn't true.

The Sun Reported that Larry was very sick, and even nearing the Rainbow Bridge. However, Downing Street completely denied this allegation and said that he was perfectly happy and healthy.

Larry Has a Gender Preference

Maybe it's the deep voice, dominant presence, or sheer sight of a man that makes Larry nervous, but one thing is for sure, he's not a huge fan of the male gender. Many speculators think that this is due to abuse or neglect when Larry was out on the streets.

While he is still cordial with men, accepting them into the living space, he is slightly more hesitant and even fearful of some men. There is one exception, however. When former U.S. President Obama visited Downing Street, Larry took a shine to him right away. It seems that Obama has quite a way with animals.

Conclusion

Yes, Larry the cat has come in contact with some pretty influential political figures. He is one lucky feline, really making up for life on the street. He deserves to live his life in a much better situation than he had in the beginning.

We are happy to report that 17-year-old Larry the cat is still very much alive and thriving. It is amazing how some animals can escape less than favorable circumstances to live long and spoiled lives.

• See Also: Famous Cats: The Most Recognized Felines on Earth

Featured Image Credit: Larry the cat sat on the steps on Downing St, Parrot of Doom, Wikimedia Commons CC SA 4.0 International