As Britain reels from Keir Starmer’s resignation on Monday, one resident of 10 Downing Street is staying put, Larry the cat. At 19 years old, the official chief mouser has now outlived seven prime ministers and has become a British icon with nearly 900,000 followers online.
Larry arrived at Downing Street in February 2011 after being adopted from a London animal shelter as part of the government’s effort to deal with mice at the complex. Since then, he has become one of the most recognizable symbols of British government, at times drawing more attention than the politicians he serves alongside.
Over the past 15 years, Larry has lived through six prime ministers, David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, and now Keir Starmer. If a new prime minister is appointed soon, that person will be the seventh leader of Larry’s tenure, reinforcing his image as a rare constant in a politically unsettled era.
His public profile now extends far beyond pest control. Larry’s X account, under the name “Larry the Cat,” regularly posts playful reactions to political developments and has become part of his public image. He is also a familiar sight outside Downing Street for photographers and reporters, and has been photographed greeting world leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, while often stealing attention from major political events.
