ZMT: Daily Fact: The sweet story of Larry the Cat, the U.K.'s "chief mouser"

Original photo by Jamie Lorriman/ Alamy Stock Photo

The British prime minister's office has a "chief mouser" named Larry the Cat.

While royal-watchers eagerly tuned in to the coronation of King Charles III, a smaller but equally devoted fan base took note of another recent milestone related to the British government: February 15, 2023, marked the 12th anniversary of the arrival of Larry the Cat, the latest in a long line of pets at the U.K. prime minister's residence, but the first to be awarded the title of chief mouser to the Cabinet Office.

As with his predecessors, Larry's presence at 10 Downing Street has been treated with largely playful coverage by the U.K. tabloids. Adopted from the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home for his alleged hunting abilities, the domestic shorthair was "roasted" by the press when a rodent surfaced at a Cabinet dinner early in his tenure, and he later drew attention for his tussles with fellow mouser Palmerston from the Foreign Office. The government's media arm has even gotten in on the fun with an official profile that lists such feline responsibilities as "testing antique furniture for napping quality" and "contemplating a solution to the mouse occupancy of the house." Meanwhile, Larry's unofficial Twitter account has compiled more than 800,000 followers thanks to a steady stream of reliably cheeky quips.

Reportedly tolerant of the family dog that accompanied current PM Rishi Sunak into office, Larry showed his predatory instincts remained sharp by chasing away a fox that wandered too close to 10 Downing in October 2022. While U.K. residents may have their hands full with the usual complement of domestic and international issues, they can feel comfortable knowing that Larry is doing his part to keep government operations running smoothly.

Numbers Don't Lie

Number of U.K. prime ministers to hold office during Larry's tenure

Estimated population of pet cats in the United Kingdom

11,000,000

Total performances of "Cats" during its original West End run

8,949

Year of birth of "Cobra Kai" actress Mary Mouser

1996

A pet raccoon lived at the White House during the Calvin Coolidge administration.

The White House has also hosted its share of nonhuman residents, from Barack Obama's Portuguese water dogs to Caroline Kennedy's pony, but the most noteworthy pet to inhabit the U.S. presidential home may well have been Calvin Coolidge's raccoon, Rebecca. While she was gifted to the first family for its 1926 Thanksgiving dinner, the Coolidges instead took pity on the ring-tailed critter and incorporated her into their menagerie of animal companions. Rebecca Raccoon appeared at the White House Easter Egg Roll, joined the President on vacations, and was given her own treehouse, although she reportedly preferred frolicking in the hallways and bathtubs of the Executive Mansion. The family also welcomed a second raccoon, named Reuben, but Rebecca regained the spotlight for herself after Reuben fled the coop. At the end of the Coolidge administration, she was sent off to retirement at a local zoo.

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Daily Fact: The sweet story of Larry the Cat, the U.K.'s "chief mouser"