Andy Burnham moves into No10 on Monday, becoming the seventh prime minister in a decade as he takes over from Sir Keir Starmer.
As the so-called “King of North” gets to grips with life in the capital, he will also have to learn to live alongside Downing Street’s most permanent resident and veteran feline friend - Larry the cat.
Larry the Cat will remain in his role as Chief Mouser despite the change in leadership.
Larry is a civil servant rather than a personal pet, meaning his position is unaffected by any changes in government.
Since arriving at No.10 in 2011, Larry, now 19 years old, has outlasted six prime ministers— David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer— and will now welcome his seventh.
A former London stray, Larry was adopted from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home on 15 February 2011 and has since become one of the most recognisable residents of Downing Street.
He is cared for by permanent Downing Street staff, who oversee his daily care and veterinary needs, and is not funded by the taxpayer.
When Andy Burnham moves into No.10 next week, Larry will be joined by the incoming Prime Minister, his wife, Marie-France van Heel, and their rescue dog, Axel.
According to his official UK government profile, Larry's duties include greeting guests, inspecting security defences and testing antique furniture for napping quality.
An account on X, dedicated to Larry the cat, has amassed more than 900,000 followers, but is not truly run by government officials. The parody account - run by an anonymous fan - tracks all the latest developments inside Downing Street from a feline perspective.
Another one bites the dust. pic.twitter.com/qjVMNYcjdg
— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) June 22, 2026
Fans of Larry can also check out the Downing Street Instagram page which is frequently updated with pictures of Larry in action.
Ahead of the World Cup, Larry was pictured behind a football with the St George’s flag. The photo was captioned “Declan Mice.”
Larry the Cat also famously had an ongoing rivalry with the foreign office’s cat Palmerston, who died earlier this year. The pair of feline foes were spotted in a brawl outside No.10 in 2016, with Palmerston suffering several deep scratches.
However, he has also made a great companion to former prime ministers’ pets. Larry and chancellor George Osborne’s cat Freya were understood to have become friends, though it was reported Larry had frequently got into spats with Rishi Sunak’s puppy, Nova.
