In a milestone that's as endearing as it is enduring, Larry the cat, the United Kingdom's celebrated chief mouser at 10 Downing Street, is marking 15 years on the job, having outlasted six prime ministers during his tenure at the prime minister's residence in central London.
Now 19 years old, the tabby feline—officially titled the chief mouser to the Cabinet Office—has become a fixture outside the iconic front door of Number 10, capturing the hearts of the British public with his nonchalant lounging and occasional forays into the spotlight.
Larry was adopted from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in February 2011, initially intended as a pet for the children of then-Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife, Samantha, before assuming his lofty governmental responsibilities.
His primary duty is to control the rodent population within the building at the heart of the British government, though reports of his mousing prowess remain a matter of some dispute among observers.
The tradition of feline pest controllers at Downing Street dates back to the 1920s, when various cats began occupying the post, ensuring the premises remained vermin-free amid the demands of national leadership.
Historical records extend even further, revealing cats in government residences during the era of Henry VIII, the Tudor monarch who died in 1547, underscoring a centuries-old practice of employing whiskered guardians in the corridors of power.
