Sun Feb 15 06:04:09 UTC 2026: ### Larry the Cat Celebrates 15 Years as Downing Street’s Top Feline
The Story:
Larry the cat, the U.K.’s beloved Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, marked his 15th anniversary on Sunday, February 15, 2026. He was recruited to 10 Downing Street on February 15, 2011, under then-Prime Minister David Cameron, to address a rodent problem. Since then, Larry has become a fixture, outlasting six Prime Ministers and navigating numerous political upheavals, including Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic, “partygate,” Liz Truss’s brief tenure, and Rishi Sunak’s premiership. He remains a popular figure, often stealing the spotlight from visiting dignitaries and maintaining a significant presence on social media.
Key Points:
- Larry the cat has served as Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office for 15 years, starting on February 15, 2011.
- He was adopted from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and is now believed to be around 19 years old.
- Larry has lived through the tenures of six Prime Ministers: David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, and Keir Starmer.
- He has a popular X (formerly Twitter) account, @Number10cat, with over 877,500 followers.
- Larry shares his residence with JoJo and Prince, the Starmer family cats, since 2024.
- Palmerston, former Mouser to the Foreign Office, passed away on February 14, 2026.
Key Takeaways:
- Larry’s longevity in Downing Street underscores his unique role as a non-political constant in a turbulent political environment.
- His popularity highlights the public’s affection for animal mascots and their ability to transcend political divides.
- The article illustrates the trend of political figures using pets for PR and humanizing their image.
First Piper 