Sir Keir Starmer has announced a Siberian kitten will join Downing Street’s resident cat Larry after a “long summer of negotiations” around the choice of a family pet.
The prime minister said his son and daughter had lobbied for a German shepherd dog but, diplomacy being the name of the game in politics, a compromise was reached.
It means another feline will be roaming outside No 10, joining longtime resident Larry - who is known to have a testy relationship with other animals.
Larry is now 17-years-old and it is understood the government has drawn up plans as to how to break the news of his eventual death to the nation.
"There's been a long summer of negotiations, back and forth, different options,” Sir Keir told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Matt Chorley.
He added: "But now we've gone for - and this is agreed after long negotiations - I said we'd get in the room and sort it out - we are now getting a kitten instead of a dog.
"This is a Siberian kitten, which is being picked up today by my daughter, and so that's where it ended up."
The Starmers already have a family cat in a rescue named JoJo and, the prime minister, among many other things to attend, needs to install a cat flap to the house.
"Our daughter persuaded us that the problem isn't any bigger for two cats than one. And therefore, we're now getting this kitten.”
Both cats have replaced a tradition of prime ministers having dogs, with Rishi Sunak’s Labrador Nova being a resident, as was Boris Johnson’s pet Dilyn.
Sarah Elliott, central veterinary officer for Cats Protection, told Sky News: “As the junior member of the growing cat coalition at Downing Street, the prime minister and his family will need to take plenty of time to slowly introduce the new addition to JoJo and Larry.
"Young kittens can be exhausting for older statesmen like Larry, so he'll also need a safe, quiet area to retreat to when the energy of a younger member of the team gets a bit too much."
Sir Keir has not yet revealed a name for the new kitten.
Some of the animals of Parliament
Larry
The original Downing Street’s chief mouser was bought from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home by David Cameron and has outstayed five prime ministers now.
JoJo
JoJo is a rescued cat that has lived with the Starmers and was introduced to Larry after the change of leadership.
Foreign office cat waits for new boss. pic.twitter.com/lcanxck31E
— Jason Farrell (@JasonFarrellSky) July 9, 2018
Palmerston
A long-time rival and adversary to Larry, the foreign office’s cat is another Battersea graduate - hired for his mousing abilities.
Tomorrow’s Budget and Spending Review will deliver a stronger economy for the British people.
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 26, 2021
I hope you find it more engaging than Nova did. #Budget2021 pic.twitter.com/W2CKxW0Xqj
Nova
Nova was born into power, joining the Sunak family in Downing Street in 2021 as a puppy and then moving over to No 10 when his master took the top job.
Back up in Westminster after a glorious August in Torbay. At last my owner now has an office so I'm starting to fill it with dog toys... pic.twitter.com/1F8wFMYOtC
— RtHonJennieOffical (@RtHonJen) September 2, 2024
Jennie
Another golden Labrador, Jennie is the guide dog of blind Lib Dem MP Steve Darling and is a regular fixture on the Commons benches. He even has his own Twitter account.
