Britain's Most Famous Cat, Larry, Marks 15 Years As Downing Street's Chief Mouser

Last Updated:February 15, 2026, 17:40 IST

Over the past 15 years, Larry has seen six British prime ministers come and go, from Cameron to Keir Starmer.

Larry the cat, the UK’s most famous feline, is celebrating 15 years on Sunday as Downing Street’s chief mouser, patrolling the corridors of power at number 10.

Recruited to tackle a rodent problem, Larry arrived at the prime minister’s official residence on February 15, 2011. He was adopted from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in London and was believed to be around four years old at the time, during David Cameron’s premiership.

Officially titled “Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office," Larry quickly became a fixture at the country’s most photographed doorstep. According to Downing Street, he spends his days greeting guests, inspecting security, and “testing antique furniture for napping quality."

Over the past 15 years, Larry has seen six prime ministers come and go, from Cameron to Keir Starmer. He has witnessed Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic, the “partygate" controversy, Liz Truss’s 49-day premiership, and the early months of Rishi Sunak’s government.

Through it all, Larry has remained unruffled, moving gracefully from crisis to crisis, often stealing the spotlight from visiting dignitaries. In December, he greeted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and in January he caused a photographer to stumble during a red carpet visit by the Polish president.

ALSO READ: Tripped Or Stumbled? Larry The Cat Responds To Downing Street Drama During Polish PM Visit

Larry has also become a social media star. His X account, @Number10cat, has more than 877,500 followers. The account, run anonymously, shares updates of Larry’s day-to-day life, occasional grumbles about the weather, and cheeky jabs at politicians. His early months at Downing Street even inspired the 2011 book, The Larry Diaries.

Larry now shares the residence with Starmer family cats JoJo and Prince, a Siberian who joined in 2024.

Palmerston, Former UK Foreign Office Mouser, Dies

Larry is not the only famous British political cat. Palmerston, the black-and-white former mouser of the UK Foreign Office and dubbed the “Diplocat extraordinaire," passed away on February 12 in Bermuda, where he had retired in 2020.

Palmerston joined the Foreign Office in 2016 after being adopted from Battersea and served for four years.

Palmerston’s X account paid tribute, saying he had been a “wonderful companion, with a gentle nature" and “will be sorely missed." Named after 19th-Century Foreign Secretary Viscount Palmerston, he also briefly represented the UK in Bermuda before his passing.

(With inputs from agencies)

News world Britain's Most Famous Cat, Larry, Marks 15 Years As Downing Street's Chief Mouser

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