Larry The Cat, Chief Mouser To The Cabinet Office, Turns 18

If you ever see photos of, say, an Italian diplomatic delegation arriving outside London’s 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister’s residence and office, look down. You’re quite likely to see one of the longer-lasting fixtures of 10 Downing Street, a character who has, in fact, outlasted 5 prime ministers. I’m talking, of course, about Larry The Cat, the venerable "Chief Mouser To The Cabinet Office” who recently celebrated his 18th birthday.

A former stray who then-Prime Minister David Cameron adopted from an animal home to deal with a band of rats who had been noted scurrying close to the residence, Larry has been a fixture in and around the place ever since. In addition to greeting visiting guests and dignitaries, Larry spends his days prowling for rats and mice, as well as making sure the antique furniture around the residence remains in prime napping condition.

Larry has proved such a popular fixture that an unofficial social media account for the cat has garnered almost a million followers on X. To Larry we say, excellent work, happy birthday, and huzzah!

Senior writer Chris DeWeese edits Morning Brief, The Weather Channel’s weekday newsletter.