In Photos: 15 Images that define 15 years of Downing Street’s Chief Mouser — #10 will melt your heart
Larry the cat celebrates 15 years on Sunday as the British government’s official rodent-catcher and unofficial first feline, a reassuring presence who has served under six prime ministers. Sometimes it seems like they have served under him. Take a trip down the memory lane to mark the journey of the Chief Mouser.
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A cat called is photographed in Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, before being taken to Downing Street, in London February 15, 2011. The four-year old tabby cat will join Britain Prime Minister David Cameron and his family in 10 Downing Street, after a rat was recently seen running past the building. REUTERS
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Larry the Cat sits near a McLaren F1 car, on the day of a reception to celebrate 75 years of Formula 1, at Downing Street in London, Britain, July 2, 2025. REUTERS
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Larry the cat, Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office sits among journalists outside 10 Downing Street, seen with a photographer’s cup featuring a portrait of Larry, in London, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020. AP Photo
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Larry the Cat, Britain’s Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, sit beside the Christmas tree at 10 Downing Street in London, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. AP Photo
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A reporter points their microphone at Larry the Cat, Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, as Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets French President Emmanuel Macron at 10 Downing Street in London, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. AP Photo
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Larry the cat, Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, sits by the red carpet laid down outside 10 Downing Street in London, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. AP Photo
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Larry, Downing Street’s new official rat catcher, looks out of a window in the Prime Minister’s residence in London, shortly after his arrival, Tuesday Feb. 15, 2011. AP Photo.
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Larry the Cat sits inside 10 Downing Street, following the results of the election, in London, Britain, July 5, 2024. REUTERS
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A police officer watches as Larry the Cat, Britain’s mouse-catcher in chief and long time resident at the leader’s official residence, walks away from the media gathered in Downing Street in London, Friday, July 5, 2024. AP Photo
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A tabby cat named Larry walks down stairs at number 10 Downing Street in London February 15, 2011. Downing Street has a new occupant – a street-smart character with a licence to kill. Larry, a four-year-old tabby, has been brought in to the British Prime Minister’s residence to clean up a gang of dirty rats who have been openly parading in front of the TV cameras. REUTERS
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New British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrives as Larry the cat sits at Downing Street in London, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, after returning from Buckingham Palace where he was formally appointed to the post by Britain’s King Charles III. AP Photo
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Larry the Cat walks past as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomes Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto in Downing Street for their meeting in central London, on January 20, 2026. JUSTIN TALLIS/Pool via REUTERS
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Larry, the official 10 Downing Street cat walks outside 10 Downing Street before the nationwide Clap for Carers to recognise and support National Health Service (NHS) workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic, in London, Thursday, May 21, 2020. AP Photo
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Larry the Downing Street cat sits with bunting in the garden of number 10 Downing Street in London June 1, 2012. Four days of celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth’s 60 years on the throne will start on Saturday. REUTERS
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Larry the Downing Street cat wearing a Union flag collar outside number 10 Downing Street, Britain January 11, 2017. REUTERS
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