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Larry Marks 15 Years as Downing Street’s Chief Mouser

Adopted in 2011 from a London shelter, the tabby has outlasted six prime ministers to become a widely photographed emblem of continuity at No. 10.

Overview

  • Larry’s milestone drew fresh tributes over Feb. 15–16, with reports noting the 18–19‑year‑old still patrols No. 10 and naps by the front hall radiator.
  • He is treated as a permanent occupant of Downing Street rather than a prime minister’s personal pet, reinforcing his status as a nonpartisan fixture.
  • A UK government profile lists his duties as greeting guests, inspecting security and testing antique furniture for nap quality.
  • The cat frequently steals diplomatic photo‑ops, including dozing beneath the U.S. president’s armored vehicle in 2019 and charming visiting leaders such as Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
  • Coverage also recalled his long rivalry with Palmerston, the Foreign Office cat who retired in 2020 and died this month in Bermuda.