The most beloved inhabitant of 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the Prime Minister (now Prime Minister) of the United Kingdom, does not speak; he has four legs; hair all over his body and his name is Larry. oh! and he is a cat. However, he is not the pet of any politician but one more worker of the place in charge of hunt the rodents that inhabit the area.
Larry was “hired” in February 2011 and although it may seem like a joke, it is an official position that has a long tradition in English government. In fact, there is a record since the beginning of the 20th century, but it is something that has been done since the 16th century. Although it is true that the first to receive the title officially was Larry and, as such, it appears on the official website of the government residence.
His tasks, as reflected on the same website, consist of “greet guests at homeinspect security defenses, and test antique furniture for quality when it’s time for naps, as well as discuss solutions for mice.”
‼️United Kingdom 🇬🇧: Larry the Cat 🐈, who lives at 10 Downing Street, scaring away a fox 🦊 that was prowling around the Prime Minister’s home.https://t.co/EqNRLwQxzH #UK
— EM-electomania.es (@electo_mania) October 10, 2022
Oblivious to political ideologies and changes of government, the cat that acts as Chief Mouser of the Cabinet Officeand he doesn’t even shy away from foxes, so he has become in a figure that has won the sympathy of English people and Twitter users from all over the world.
Although the cat known to have spent the longest in Downing Street is Wilberforce (who served four different Prime Ministers: Edward Heath, Harold Wilson, Jim Callaghan and Margaret Thatcher), Larry is the most mediatic for the times in which he has had to live.
Due to the demands of his work, the pussycat has total freedom to move around the neighborhood and its surroundings, so it is not uncommon to see him on television or in the press when journalists cover news from outside the building.
This is how it ends up grabbing headlines and starring in memes. On Twitter he even has his own unofficial profile with more than 600,000 followers, @Number10cat, where this kitty follows the news through his eyes. Always witty and very reminiscent of another famous cynical and sarcastic cat: Salem from the series Sabrina, witch things.
Cover Photo |Official White House Photo by Pete Souza