Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office

Yesterday's post dealt with Canada's Parliament Hill cats. But the British also have a long history of parliamentary cats.

The home of Britain's Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street, London is guarded at all times not only by the Police but also by the Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office. This tradition apparently stretches back for decades, if not centuries.

The current Chief Mouser is Larry, a young rescue cat from the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. He has been on the job for about a year now. He stands nobly on guard against rats, mice and other vermin. Doesn't he look positively Churchillian in this official portrait?

Here's an action shot of Larry on patrol up and down the stairs of 10 Downing Street. He is a fierce mouser.

Sometimes Larry gets to meet famous people. But he remains unimpressed by them, as cats always do. Larry has been known to claw members of the press.

On the day of the Royal Wedding last April, Larry was decked out in a suitably patriotic bow to honour William and Kate.

A Chief Mouser usually serves several Prime Ministers over the years and stays at 10 Downing Street while different political administrations come and go. The cat is not a personal pet of the Prime Minister but is a career civil servant.