1 / 9In turbulent political times, stability at 10 Downing Street comes with four legs and whiskers. Larry the cat completes 15 years on Sunday, February 15, as Britain’s official rodent-catcher and widely known “first feline”, serving under six prime ministers, according to AP. (Image: AP)
2 / 9The grey-and-white tabby holds the formal title of Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office. Adopted from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Larry moved into Downing Street on February 15, 2011, during the tenure of then-Prime Minister David Cameron. (Image: AP)
3 / 9Since then, he has outlasted multiple leaders, including Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and current Prime Minister Keir Starmer. As AP notes, at times it seems prime ministers have served under him. (Image: AP)
4 / 9Philip Howell, a professor at the University of Cambridge who studies human-animal relations, said Larry’s approval ratings would likely be higher than most politicians. He added that the cat represents stability at a time when it is valued. (Image: AP)
5 / 9Larry’s official duties, as listed on the UK government website, include greeting guests, inspecting security and testing antique furniture for nap quality. He is also known for appearing at key moments when world leaders arrive at the famous black door of No. 10. (Image: AP)
6 / 9Freelance photographer Justin Ng told AP that Larry often “photo-bombs” high-profile visits. The cat has crossed paths with leaders such as former US President Barack Obama, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump. During Trump’s 2019 visit, Larry was seen resting under the presidential limousine known as “The Beast.” (Image: Reuters)
7 / 9While his rodent-catching record is debated, Larry has been photographed catching mice and even attempting to grab a pigeon. Ng described him as calm and largely unfazed by the political drama around him. (Image: AP)
8 / 9Over the years, Larry has shared space with other pets, including Johnson’s dog Dilyn and Sunak’s Labrador Nova. He also had a well-known rivalry with Palmerston, the Foreign Office cat, before Palmerston retired in 2020, according to AP. (Image: Reuters)
9 / 9Now aged 18 or 19, Larry has slowed down but still patrols key areas of Downing Street. Howell told AP that removing such a popular and nonpartisan figure could be politically risky, adding that Larry’s independent nature is part of his charm for many Britons. (Image: AP)
