His official title is “Chief Mouser”: Larry the cat has been on duty at the British Prime Minister’s official residence in London’s Downing Street for more than ten years. When Liz Truss is expected to receive the keys to the famous black door as Boris Johnson’s successor on September 6, she will be the fourth person in power who Larry shares his home with.
The “tabby,” as it is also known in English, has given Britons a sense of stability amid political turmoil since he was brought to Westminster from the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home by then-Prime Minister David Cameron in 2011. According to the government website, Downing Street receives “gifts and treats” for the hangover every day.
In Downing Street, which is closed to the public and often besieged by photographers and cameramen, he often provides variety or even steals the show from the politicians. For example, when he lets the police officers on guard open the door for him, chases pigeons or just lounges on a window sill in the sun.
But Larry has long been more than just a popular pet. A satirical Twitter account in his name has long since become a social media phenomenon.
With almost 650,000 followers, the @Number10cat account has a wider reach than the likely next head of government and previous Secretary of State, Liz Truss. Behind the tweets is a single person who wants to keep their identity secret and only makes it clear that it is not an official account. She is not surprised at her success. “Dogs may be man’s best friend, but cats throw the Internet,” said “Twitter-Larry” at the request of the German Press Agency, adding: “It turns out that cat photos and politics are an irresistible mix! “
Critical-satirical comments on daily politics
The posts are often critical-satirical comments on the day’s politics and the Prime Minister’s statements combined with pictures of Larry and cat memes. According to the Twitter account, Larry isn’t at all keen on his previous roommates, particularly Johnson. According to “Twitter-Larry”, it is not likely that the future head of government can count on more goodwill, but it is not impossible either. Cats are “always naturally cynical and critical, but also supportive if they like what they see”.
Truss had already tried to curry favor with the real Larry. “I already have an extremely positive relationship with Larry. I think he often sneaks up on me and I’m one of his favorite cabinet members,” said the 47-year-old foreign secretary at a campaign event in an intra-party duel with Rishi Sunak for the party leadership of the British conservatives. One of the goals of her application is to further deepen this friendship, Truss said.
Fit at 15 years old
Larry, now 15, still looks fit. Since the next parliamentary elections are due in two years at the latest, it cannot be ruled out that he will share the office with at least one other head of government. According to “Twitter-Larrys”, opposition leader Keir Starmer from the Labor Party has a good chance. But even he couldn’t automatically rely on Larry’s goodwill, he makes it clear.
If the white-brown cat with a tiger pattern dies, his alter ego also wants to throw up on Twitter. “If there is no Larry, there is no profile. It lives as long as he lives.”
But it seems quite possible that Larry’s post will then be filled again, because the seat of government behind door number 10 is, like many houses in the British capital, plagued by mice. There is hardly a representative building in which the small black boxes with poisonous bait on the baseboards do not reveal the presence of the small rodents, if you do not see them scurrying around in broad daylight.
In view of the extent, you would probably need a whole company of cats to master the problem. The British government’s website takes it with humour. “One of his daily duties is to think about a solution for the mouse occupation of the house,” it says. But that is still in the planning phase.
