Larry the Cat: A Symbol of Stability at 10 Downing Street
LONDON – In a decade marked by political upheaval in the United Kingdom, one figure remains a constant presence behind the black door of Number 10 Downing Street. Larry, the resident feline of the British Prime Minister’s residence, is celebrating 15 years as Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, becoming the longest-serving member of the British government.
Appointed in February 2011 by then-Prime Minister David Cameron, Larry was adopted from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. Since then, he has witnessed the tenures of six Prime Ministers: Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer, and Cameron himself.
Larry’s official profile on the UK government website humorously details his duties: greeting guests, inspecting security defenses, and assessing the quality of naps on antique furniture.
But Larry represents more than just an institutional pet, according to Philip Howell, a professor at the University of Cambridge specializing in the history of human-animal relations. He embodies stability in a political system that has experienced high leadership turnover.
“Animals in institutional settings can function as elements of humanizing power and generate emotional identification,” Howell explained, referencing research published in journals like Political Communication and Society & Animals that analyzes how official pets influence public perception of leaders.
Unlike presidential pets in the United States, often associated with the personal image of each president, Larry doesn’t belong to any single Prime Minister. He is, in a sense, a figure of the state.
Larry’s frequent appearances at receptions have made him an unexpected player in British diplomacy. He has been photographed with world leaders including Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, often appearing in official images or resting under presidential vehicles.
While his success as a mouser has been debated, his symbolic value appears undeniable. Now estimated to be 18 or 19 years old, Larry has slowed down, but continues to hold his post near the radiator at Number 10.
In a parliamentary system marked by internal crises, resignations, and snap elections, the Downing Street cat has become a constant. A peculiar form of British soft power: independent, unpredictable, and, above all, enduring. Because in the United Kingdom, Prime Ministers come and go. Larry, however, remains.
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