Larry (cat)

Larry is a cat who has served as Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office at 10 Downing Street since 2011. He is a brown-and-white tabby, believed to have been born in January 2007. By July 2016, when Theresa May became prime minister, he had developed a reputation of being "violent" in his interactions with other local mousers, especially the Foreign Office's much younger cat Palmerston.[1]

Larry
Larry in 2016
Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office
Assumed office
15 February 2011
Serving with Freya (2012–2014)
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Theresa May
Boris Johnson
Preceded bySybil (2009)
Personal details
Bornc. January 2007 (age 14)
London, United Kingdom
Residence10 Downing Street
OccupationMouser
AwardsBlue plaque at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, 2012
GenderMale

Early life
Larry at the door of 10 Downing Street, his official residence and workplace

Larry is a rescued stray cat from the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home who was chosen by Downing Street staff.[2] Larry was intended to be a pet for the children of David and Samantha Cameron, and was described by Downing Street sources as a "good ratter" and as having "a high chase-drive and hunting instinct".[3] In 2012, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home revealed that Larry's popularity had resulted in a surge of 15% more people adopting cats.

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.[4] However, the story was later revealed 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 upkeep is funded by the staff of 10 Downing Street.[7] 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.[8]

Work as Chief Mouser

He made his first known kill – a mouse – on 22 April 2011.[9] On 28 August 2012, Larry made his first public killing, dropping his prey on the lawn in front of Number 10.[10] In October 2013, Larry caught four mice in two weeks and one staff member rescued a mouse from his clutches.[11]

In July 2015, George Osborne and Cabinet Office Minister Matt Hancock cornered a mouse in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's office, trapping it in a brown paper sandwich bag. The press joked that the Chancellor of the Exchequer might take over the Chief Mouser position.[12]

David Cameron explained during his final Prime Minister's Questions in 2016 that Larry is a civil servant and not personal property, so would not leave Downing Street after a change of premier.[13] The Labour Party has confirmed that in the event of a Labour government, Larry would remain as Chief Mouser.[14] Larry has retained his position with the Boris Johnson administration.

Territorial changes
Larry (left) lies on the window of 10 Downing Street, during the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump

In 2011, Larry was banned from the Prime Minister's quarters in 10 Downing Street as his fur was ruining the Prime Minister's fresh suits.

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".[15] In February 2013, a cat-proof barrier was erected to prevent Larry and his neighbour Freya from getting into the Foreign Office, after complaints from staff members with allergies. Foreign Secretary, William Hague later asked that the barrier be taken down.

In December 2015, former Home Secretary, David Blunkett suggested that Larry should be asked to increase his responsibilities to include the Palace of Westminster, which at the time was being overrun by rodents.[16]

Relationships with politicians
Larry with Prime Minister David Cameron and U.S. President Barack Obama

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."[17]

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 never really liked cats but that spin doctors believed Larry could make the PM appear more friendly.[18] When leaving office in 2016, Cameron spoke of his "sadness" that he could not take Larry with him.[19][20] When Theresa May became Prime Minister in 2016, there were concerns that Larry was stressed and could be missing the Cameron family.[21]

In August 2016, Sir 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".[22]

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 his wife Melania Trump at the start of Trump's state visit to the United Kingdom; he later sheltered from the rain under Trump's armoured Cadillac and could not be coaxed out, leading Jon Sopel of the BBC to tweet: "BREAKING: anti-Trump demonstrators fail to stop @realDonaldTrump motorcade, but @Number10cat does".[23][24]

Relationships with other animals

In June 2012, 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.[25] Freya was reported to be the more dominant cat and more effective mouser, reportedly because her days as a stray had "hardened" her.[26] In November 2014, Freya left Downing Street, leaving Larry with the sole mousing responsibility.[27]

In 2014, Osborne brought in a pet dog, Lola. Aides announced that Lola got on well with both Larry and Freya.

In April 2016, a new feline neighbour, Palmerston, moved into the Foreign Office.[28] Although known for getting along from time to time, the two cats have fought on numerous occasions.[21][29] The Leader of the House commented that he hoped that Palmerston and Larry would establish a "modus vivendi".[30] In July of that year, Palmerston entered Number 10 and had to be forcibly evicted by security staff.[31] 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.[32] Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen, the government's spokesman 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.[33] During the fight, Larry lost his collar, whilst Palmerston suffered from several deep scratches and a badly cut ear.[33]

In August 2016, it emerged the Cabinet Office were considering also appointing another Chief Mouser to deal with their mouse problem. The Chief Whip, Gavin Williamson, said that the cat would be called Cromwell.[31]

In September 2019, a new dog, Dilyn (owned by new prime minister Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds), came to stay at Downing Street. Battersea Dogs & Cats Home offered to negotiate a deal with Larry.[34]

In December 2020, the tabby 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.[35]

Criticism

Larry has been criticised for both his temperament and job performance. Within a month of his arrival at Downing Street, anonymous sources described Larry as having "a distinct lack of killer instinct."[36]

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.[37] 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.[37] Larry was almost fired from his position in 2012, when he failed to react to a mouse spotted in Cameron's study.[38] His lack of killer instinct also earned him the nickname "Lazy Larry" by the tabloid press.[38] In September 2012, Freya was appointed to share the role of Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office.

Awards and recognition

Larry was honoured with a blue plaque at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in October 2012.[39]

A book, written in character as Larry, Larry Diaries: Downing Street – the First 100 Days by former Guardian journalist James Robinson was published in 2011.[40]

A picture gallery to celebrate Larry's first two years in office was produced by The Daily Telegraph.[41]

In 2012, Larry was visible on the Google Street View of Number 10, asleep next to the door.[42]

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.[38]

See also

References
  1. Horton, H. (13 July 2016). "Larry vs Palmerston is the real fight in Westminster". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  2. Glen Oglaza "The Cat's Whiskers" Archived 18 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Sky News, 15 February 2011.
  3. "Larry the cat to join David Cameron in Downing Street". BBC News. 15 February 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  4. Nissim, Mayer (23 February 2011). "David Cameron 'stole cat for Number 10'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  5. Lewis, Paul (23 February 2011). "Churnalism or news? How PRs have taken over the media". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  6. "History: 10 Downing Street". Gov.UK. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  7. Prince, Rosa (15 February 2011). "Larry the cat is installed as Downing Street Chief Mouser". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
  8. Kennedy, Maev (7 September 2011). "Larry the cat fundraiser quiz night to be held at No 10". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
  9. Stratton, Allegra (24 April 2011). "Larry the No 10 cat catches first mouse ... finally". The Guardian. London.
  10. "Larry the Downing Street cat finally kills first rodent". ITV News. 28 August 2012.
  11. McSmith, Andy (18 October 2013). "Andy McSmith's Diary: Even Larry the cat is not safe from factions in Downing Street". The Independent. London.
  12. "2 senior UK ministers hunt down rat during budget meeting". dna. 5 July 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  13. Millward, David (9 August 2016). "David Cameron should save Larry the cat from his lonely life in Downing Street". The Daily Telegraph.
  14. "Commons Confidential: endangered cats, rebellious Scots and the battle for the Edstone". Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  15. "There is a special door for cats in Downing Street, Nick Clegg confirms". The Daily Telegraph.
  16. "Downing Street cat Larry needed to tackle Parliament's rodent problem, says David Blunkett". politicshome.com. 24 December 2015. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  17. "Number 10 cat Larry catches three mice". BBC News. 20 June 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  18. Kirkup, James (12 July 2016). "David Cameron's worst lie is finally revealed: Larry the cat". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  19. Swinford, Steven (13 July 2016). "David Cameron: I do love Larry the cat and I can prove it". Daily Telegraph.
  20. Saul, Heather (13 July 2016). "David Cameron: The surprising description of him that he 'hated'". The Independent.
  21. "Larry the cat makes Whitehall comeback after vet repairs his battle wounds". The Daily Telegraph.
  22. "People are outraged Larry the Cat isn't on David Cameron's honours list". The Daily Telegraph.
  23. Horton, Alex (4 June 2019). "Larry the Downing Street cat parks himself under Trump limo". The Washington Post – via San Francisco Chronicle.
  24. Moran, Lee (4 June 2019). "Larry the Downing Street Cat Goes All Passive-Aggressive on Donald Trump". Huffington Post.
  25. Prince, Rosa (16 October 2012). "Police called to break up violent cat fight in Downing Street". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  26. Parkinson, Justin (16 October 2012). "Downing Street denies Cameron and Osborne cat feud". BBC News. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  27. Dearden, Lizzie (9 November 2014). "George Osborne's family cat Freya sent away from Downing Street to Kent". The Independent. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  28. Horton, Helena (13 April 2016). "Palmerston the cat arrives for work at the Foreign Office". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  29. Horton, Helena (13 June 2017). "Tensions grow between Larry and Palmerston as UK in government limbo". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  30. "Limping Larry the cat treated by vet amid 'fracas' with rival Palmerston".
  31. Horton, Helena (3 August 2016). "Cabinet office 'to appoint cat called Cromwell as Chief Mouser'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  32. Ross, Tim (17 September 2016). "Fur flies in the House of Lords as peer asks: 'Who pays for Larry the Cat?'". The Daily Telegraph.
  33. Horton, Helena (1 August 2016). "Number 10 cat Larry loses collar in 'most brutal fight yet' with Foreign Office's Palmerston". The Daily Telegraph.
  34. Andrew Kersley (2 September 2019), "Will Larry cope with Dilyn in Downing Street? Here's Battersea's advice on introducing dogs and cats", i
  35. "Brexit tensions turn deadly as Larry the cat tries to kill pigeon", i, 24 December 2020
  36. Prince, Rosa (28 February 2011). "Downing Street defends Larry the cat from anonymous briefing". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  37. "Downing Street cat Larry caught napping". BBC News. 15 November 2011.
  38. "A softer side of government: How Larry the cat became a purr-fect political companion on Downing Street | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  39. "The home where the only pay is happiness". The Daily Telegraph. London. 14 October 2012.
  40. Robinson, James (2011). The Larry diaries : Downing Street – the first 100 days. London: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0857207630.
  41. "In pictures: David Cameron's cat – Larry, Chief Mouser of Downing Street". The Daily Telegraph. London. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  42. Whittaker, Zack (30 July 2012). "Google Street View pays visit to U.K. prime minister". CNET. Retrieved 26 August 2014.


Preceded by
Sybil		 Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office
15 February 2011–		 Incumbent
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