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Who is Larry the cat’s family?

241 replies

Bleurfghjj · 06/07/2024 13:41

Just seen mention of Larry the cat making an appearance for the first cabinet meeting. But… does someone live and sleep there continuously with him? Does he have a family? Is he a lone ranger, does he live independently? What’s the deal?

Who is Larry the cat’s family?
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BlossomToLeaves · 06/07/2024 14:07

Who runs his Twitter account, I wonder? (Is it some official Downing St or Civil Service person who does it with permission - as I expect - not just a random person doing a parody account)

And I wonder how free he is to roam the neighbourhood and whether he visits any other houses/offices/departments to get fed several times!

And whether he has free run of the house, including the flats of No 10 and 11 (I think I read it's all connected inside by interior passages etc?)

KnickerlessParsons · 06/07/2024 14:06

RaspberryIce · 06/07/2024 13:43

I wonder how old he is. Will he have a state funeral one day?

I thought there have been several Larrys over the years

scrapedandfuriousviper · 06/07/2024 14:05

Yes, I went to the Foreign Office when Palmerston was there and he was so fussed over that there were notices about not giving him too many treats. And he was very big (I got to give him a cuddle too!)

Needmorelego · 06/07/2024 14:05

@Bleurfghjj I think the only reason he shouldn't actually be PM is he is quite an elderly gentleman now and doesn't need the stress.

Singleandproud · 06/07/2024 14:04

Also Larry and his food and care is not paid for by the tax payer but through staff donations.

DimpsieMizzle · 06/07/2024 14:03

A relative of mine used to work at Downing Street (Cameron era) so we got to have a private tour. We met Larry too.

The staff loved him and looked after him really well. His food bowls were in the staff kitchen, tucked under the countertop, so he's definitely part of the day to day household.

He had a crochet blanket that lived on one the window sills of the entrance hall so he could sit and watch everything that was going on. The gentlemen who's job it was open the door were all very fond of him.

All in all he seemed to have a lovely life and I'm sure that's still the case.

Bleurfghjj · 06/07/2024 14:03

Larry tweeted on 5th July

Who is Larry the cat’s family?
OP posts:
LuckysDadsHat · 06/07/2024 14:03

Larry is very looked after by all of the household staff of number 10, the police (as shown by the twitter video), and most PM's and their families have also engaged with him.

He wants for nothing, he maybe not the greatest mouser, but he has a fabulous life.

Needmorelego · 06/07/2024 14:02

@FOJN probably 😂

FOJN · 06/07/2024 14:02

Needmorelego · 06/07/2024 14:00

@its2024 apparently there's a cat flap round the back.
But Larry - being a cat - prefers the front door 😂

I think he waits to be let in, goes straight out of the cat flap and round to the front door to be let in again.

Bleurfghjj · 06/07/2024 14:02

Nightblindness · 06/07/2024 14:01

OP, just for thinking about this you are a woman after my own heart. Dd and I were discussing this yesterday: who is there for him consistently given the comings and goings of PMs.

❤️❤️❤️

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CurlewKate · 06/07/2024 14:02

There are staff their 24 hours a day-they are his family!

Nightblindness · 06/07/2024 14:01

OP, just for thinking about this you are a woman after my own heart. Dd and I were discussing this yesterday: who is there for him consistently given the comings and goings of PMs.

whynotwhatknot · 06/07/2024 14:01

larry for pm!

Needmorelego · 06/07/2024 14:00

@its2024 apparently there's a cat flap round the back.
But Larry - being a cat - prefers the front door 😂

Needmorelego · 06/07/2024 13:58

There was Freya too. She was George Osborne's cat and was briefly given Larry's job because Larry was being rubbish at catching mice.
Freya sadly has passed away now.

Who is Larry the cat’s family?
CHEESEY13 · 06/07/2024 13:58

Aha, Boss Cats!

its2024 · 06/07/2024 13:57

LuckysDadsHat · 06/07/2024 13:54

You'd think they would have put a cat flap in the door my now!

Needmorelego · 06/07/2024 13:56

There's also Gladstone who lives in the Treasury. There was Palmerston who lived in the Foreign Office but him and Larry did not get on so he was sent off to live in the countryside.

Who is Larry the cat’s family?
Who is Larry the cat’s family?
Singleandproud · 06/07/2024 13:56

Larrys official title is Chief Mouser to the Cabinet office.

There are also other government cats Palmerston is/was (not sure if he is still around) the Chief Mouser of the Foreign Office aka @Diplomog

CHEESEY13 · 06/07/2024 13:56

I think it's HIS house, whatever the Civil Service think - and the PM (whoever that may currently be) is jolly lucky Larry let's them use the place.

I remember when Donald Trump visited and Larry hid under that huge bomb-proof car. He didn't think much of Trump.

Tracker1234 · 06/07/2024 13:55

I saw him sitting at the front door before Starmer turned up. Someone opened the door and he just sat there! I agree with others..he has his staff well trained

Pichee · 06/07/2024 13:55

I know a civil servant who regularly used to go to Number 10. Larry doesn’t have a family. But don’t feel sorry for him he is absolutely adored by staff. I mean if my office had a cat I couldn’t be able to walk past without making a fuss (if cat was okay with it).

its2024 · 06/07/2024 13:54

Love Larry and wonder what he thinks about all the fuss, when the cameras are there.

He's probably thinking not other one, he must have been very confused when Liz Truss disappeared so quickly.