British politics moves fast. Prime Ministers enter 10 Downing Street with grand promises, only to get booted out by their own parties, the markets, or a thoroughly exhausted electorate. Yet, through years of absolute legislative chaos, one resident has never had to pack his bags.
Larry the cat, a rescue tabby who arrived at Downing Street in February 2011, has outlasted six different Prime Ministers. Think about that timeline. He moved in during David Cameron’s coalition government, watched Theresa May struggle with Brexit, witnessed the rapid rise and dramatic fall of Boris Johnson, outlived Liz Truss’s historic 49-day economic meltdown, saw Rishi Sunak get drenched in a snap election announcement, and stayed put right through Keir Starmer's turbulent administration.
Politicians like to claim they understand public sentiment, but Larry is the one holding the actual mandate. In fact, an Ipsos poll ahead of the 2024 general election showed Larry with a massive 44% favourability rating. Compare that to Rishi Sunak's dismal 22% or Keir Starmer's 34%. The math doesn't lie. The British public trusts the cat more than the politicians.
The Myth of the Imperial Mouser
Let's clear up a major misconception right away. People think Larry is the personal pet of whoever holds the office of Prime Minister. He isn't. When David Cameron stepped down in 2016, he explicitly cleared this up during Prime Minister's Questions. Larry is an official civil servant. He belongs to the house, not the human.
That distinction matters because it means Larry can't be fired by a bitter outgoing leader. He represents permanent stability in a system that has looked incredibly shaky for a decade. He has his own official duties listed on the government website, which include greeting guests, inspecting security, and testing antique furniture for napping quality.
His actual rodent-catching record, though? That is where things get a bit complicated.
A High-Stakes Career Built on Barely Trying
When Larry was adopted from the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Whitehall had a massive rat problem. A rodent had literally scurried across the doorstep of Number 10 during a live BBC News broadcast. The government needed an immediate solution.
But within weeks of his arrival, insiders started whispering to the press that Larry lacked a killer instinct. The tabloids quickly branded him "Lazy Larry." The situation got so ridiculous in 2011 that David Cameron reportedly threw a fork at a mouse during a Cabinet dinner because Larry was nowhere to be found.
When challenged on his low body count, Larry’s parody social media accounts—which command millions of followers—frequently claim that his anti-rodent strategy is simply "in the tactical planning stage." He does occasionally remind people he's a predator, though. He made headlines for chasing a fox away from the property and was spotted catching a fresh mouse in April 2026, proving that at 19 years old, he still has a bit of edge left.
Facing Down World Leaders and Royal Protocol
Larry doesn't care about your diplomatic status. He treats world leaders with the same mild indifference he shows to junior press secretaries.
He famously took a nap under Donald Trump’s armored Cadillac limousine, grounding the multi-million-dollar vehicle until he felt like moving. He has brushed past Barack Obama, shared a glance with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and evaluated EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Larry's Lifespan vs. Downing Street Occupants (2011 - 2026)
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David Cameron | 2010 - 2016 (Adopted Larry in 2011)
Theresa May | 2016 - 2019
Boris Johnson | 2019 - 2022
Liz Truss | 2022 (49 days)
Rishi Sunak | 2022 - 2024
Keir Starmer | 2024 - 2026
While Prime Ministers must survive brutal weekly grilling sessions at the dispatch box, Larry's biggest daily battle is territorial. Over the years, he has fought vicious street battles with Freya, the cat belonging to former Chancellor George Osborne. He also had to establish boundaries with Palmerston, the Foreign Office mouser who lived next door until retirement. Even now, with new prime ministerial pets moving into the flat above, Larry maintains his iron grip on the ground floor.
Managing the Larry Bridges Plan
At roughly 19 years old, Larry is exceptionally old for a cat. Downing Street staff are fully aware that his historic tenure will eventually come to an end.
Just as the UK government uses codenames like "London Bridge" for royal funeral protocols, briefing documents reveal that officials have drawn up a media strategy colloquially known as "Larry Bridges." This plan dictates exactly how the news of Larry’s passing will be broken to a grieving nation, ensuring the announcement matches the gravity of losing a national icon.
But for now, the old tabby is still patrolling the cobblestones of Downing Street. He receives thousands of letters, drawings, and toys from fans worldwide. His mail is handled by the official Direct Communication Unit at Number 10. Just don't bother sending him treats. Security teams screen all his packages and reject external food gifts to prevent any tampering.
If you want to track Larry's daily antics or check if he's currently blocking the entrance to British democracy, you can follow the live press feeds outside the famous black door. Pay attention next time a major political announcement happens in the rain. You'll likely see a small, brown-and-white tabby waiting patiently by the door, completely unbothered by the unfolding crisis around him.
