Who is Boris Johnson’s flatmate Larry the Cat? What is his job and who are the other Cabinet cats?
THE most famous face in Downing Street, who now has Boris Johnson as his new flatmate, is Larry the Cat. But what is the Whitehall moggy’s role? We take a look at the feline, ahead of International Cat Day on August 8, who has seen off two Prime Ministers. Who is Larry the Cat and […]
THE most famous face in Downing Street, who now has Boris Johnson as his new flatmate, is Larry the Cat.
But what is the Whitehall moggy’s role? We take a look at the feline, ahead of International Cat Day on August 8, who has seen off two Prime Ministers.
Who is Larry the Cat and what is his role?
Larry the Cat took up his position as Chief Mouser of Number 10 Downing Street in February 2011 – a year after the Camerons moved in.
The 12 year old tabby is the first cat at No10 to be given the official title of Chief Mouser.
As such, his day-to-day duties include finding a solution to the mouse occupancy of the house.
Larry says this is still “in tactical planning stage”, despite being in the job for over eight years.
He has been criticised for not doing his job with the Evening Standard writing about “the feckless cats of Whitehall“.
Larry took the criticism in his stride tweeting: “Outrageous slur on our good names; we WILL take this laying down…”
The Prime Ministerial moggy is practically part of the furniture at No10, with paps regularly snapping him lounging in the sunshine.
Larry’s “slaves” (no cats are owned!) are the Civil Servants in the Cabinet Office.
They keep a voluntary kitty to buy his food and have looked after the cat for almost eight years now.
His official Government page says he spends his day “greeting guests to the house, inspecting security defences and testing antique furniture for napping quality”.
How many PMs has Larry lived with?
Larry has stayed in his post longer than the last two Prime Ministers.
His Twitter page @Number10cat states he’s been “in position longer than the leader of any UK political party”.
He was brought to Downing Street by David Cameron in 2011 from Battersea Dogs and Cats home.
Cameron left his post in 2016 after the Brexit referendum – leaving Larry looking for a new roomie.
Theresa May then moved in, and in a 2016 interview with the Sunday Times, she said she was “very happy to see Larry”.
She did note there were parts of Number 10 where Larry “rules the roost” and things between the two got a bit awkward when he had to be tactically removed from outside Number 10 before May gave her resignation speech.
The Chief Mouser is now showing Boris Johnson the ropes – and making sure he doesn’t try and sit in his favourite chair.
What did Larry have to say about the Conservative leadership contest?
Larry is a prolific tweeter and on May 24 announced he was standing to become the next PM.
He tweeted: “I am announcing that I’m standing to become the next Prime Minister.
“If Boris Johnson is running, then people deserve a serious candidate too… #LarryForPM #YesWeCat”
At the same time he put out an ad for a new butler tweeting: “WANTED: New Butler. Ability to sort out Brexit desirable, but generosity with cat treats, combed hair and reluctance to use first name essential… Applications to L T Cat, 10 Downing Street, London.”
Unfortunately his name was missed off the ballot papers and Larry failed to be elected – but he still has the most important job of keeping the current PM in order.
Who are the other Whitehall cats?
Larry is not the only Cabinet cat – there are four others with vital roles.
From bitter rival Palmerston to the only female, Evie, here’s more about the highly-ranked pusses.
Palmerston the Foreign Office cat
Palmerston works at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Whitehall.
In 2017 it was reported he had killed 27 mice since arriving from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in 2016 – beating Larry’s haul of around 10.
In July 2018, his profile took a dive after he slaughtered a defenceless duckling.
He is also known to scrap with No10 cat Larry – often coming out on top.
Palmerston can be followed on Twitter @DiploMog.
Gladstone the Treasury cat
Gladstone was put in charge of the Treasury in 2016.
The black tom, who likes to wear a bow tie, is a former stray adopted from Battersea Cats and Dogs Home.
He runs #GladdersYoga from his Twitter account @TreasuryMog every Wednesday.
He caused a frenzy in Whitehall in September 2018 after going missing – but the black moggy was soon back in his rightful place.
Evie the Cabinet Office cat
Evie was rehomed from the Celia Hammond Trust with her son Ossie and lives in the Cabinet Office.
She is the only female feline among the Whitehall mogs.
Evie is named after Dame Evelyn Sharp – the first ever female Civil Service Permanent Secretary.
In April 2019, Evie was promoted to the face of the Government’s Equalities Unit.
Ossie the Cabinet Office cat
Ossie is Evie’s son and was rescued, along with his mum, from the Celia Hammond Trust.
Ossie is named after Sir Edward Osmotherly – author of the rules followed by civil servants in giving evidence to select committees.
His job is to keep the four floors of the Cabinet Office in Whitehall rodent free.
A Cabinet Office insider told The Sun the mother and son pair had been specifically chosen to avoid fights with the Whitehall tomcats.