What’s next for the famous cat in Downing Street?

After 14 years of Tory rule, Downing Street is set to see a lot of change. But it’s not just the politicians who will be making headlines on election day.

Sir Keir Starmer will take over No10 from Rishi Sunak, so out with the old and in with the new. But what will become of Larry the Cat, its most famous resident?

Here’s a quick introduction if you don’t know this famous cat.

Who is Larry the cat?

Larry is a 17-year-old cat born in January 2007. In 2011, Larry, a stray who was eventually taken in by the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, moved in with then Prime Minister David Cameron and his children at number 10.

And Larry stayed there even when the Camerons said goodbye to Downing Street. He has lived there ever since, spending his days in the house that Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Sunak lived in.

Who owns Larry the cat?

Although he has co-existed with all five Prime Ministers, he has never truly belonged to any of them. Rather, Downing Street staff look after him and fund his lifestyle on a voluntary basis.

As absurd as it may sound, according to Downing Street, Larry works at Number 10.

His duties include “welcoming guests to the house, checking security measures and testing antique furniture for sleeping quality”. Things are getting a little more serious for Larry, however, as he is now officially employed by the Cabinet Office as Chief Mouse Hunter. Larry was given this post in April 2011 for his first kill, which was a poor rodent in the corridors of No. 10.

He also had a number of encounters with international dignitaries, including once hanging out in front of Donald Trump’s £1.2 million armoured Cadillac. Lord Cameron also revealed to the BBC in 2011 that Larry had a strange soft spot for Barack Obama. Obama patted him but then paid no attention to him at all.

What happens to Larry the cat now that there is a new Prime Minister?

Even though the seat at 10 Downing Street changes, Larry the Cat will remain in Downing Street and welcome Sir Keir Starmer as the next British Prime Minister.

Larry will join the Starmer family as they prepare to move into Number 10, including Sir Keir, his wife Vic Starmer and their two teenage daughters.

The family also has their own cat named Jojo, so it will be interesting to see if the two get along.

You can follow Larry directly on Site X, formerly Twitter, where he shares his views and numerous insights into the British government.