'Jwijabi Suseok' Larry, Resident Since 2011
Living with Sixth Prime Minister Starmer's Family
Starmer Concerned About Conflict with Pet Cat
The family of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who moved into 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the British Prime Minister, is treading carefully around Larry, the so-called "Chief Mouser," who has been a long-time resident of the residence for 14 years. They also face the challenge of finding a way for their pet cat Jojo and the newly adopted kitten to live harmoniously with Larry, who has a strong territorial instinct. Larry, a "celebrity" with over 900,000 followers on social media (SNS) and an elderly cat, could cause a "cat-astrophe" if his temper is upset.
Larry, the resident cat of 10 Downing Street, the British Prime Minister's residence [Image source=AP Yonhap News]
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) recently reported, citing sources, that after the Starmer family moved into 10 Downing Street in July, their pet cats Jojo and the kitten have been confined to the family living quarters, while Larry roams freely in the rest of the building. The Starmer couple is currently considering how to introduce the cats to each other while keeping them separated.
Larry was brought in by the family of former Prime Minister David Cameron in 2011 to control rodents in the residence. Since then, he has remained at the residence, living with five Prime Minister families, with the Starmer family becoming the sixth cohabitants. Security guards even knock on the black front door of Downing Street on Larry's behalf when he wants to enter. Although Larry has been jokingly criticized for occasional negligence of duty, he has become a symbol of Downing Street.
The Starmer couple's concern is heightened because Larry has clashed multiple times with pets of previous Prime Ministers. He fought fiercely with Nova, the Labrador dog owned by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's family, and Sunak's wife, Akshata Murty, revealed that Nova was ultimately defeated by Larry. Larry also had encounters with Dilyn, the Jack Russell dog owned by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Johnson once described Larry as a "bully" in a newspaper column.
David Lammy, UK Foreign Secretary, is petting Larry the cat before entering 10 Downing Street. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News
There was even a captured scene of Larry engaging in a battle with Freya, the pet cat of former Prime Minister George Osborne, and Palmerston, another mouser near the UK Foreign Office building. Police intervened to stop the fight with Freya, and Palmerston retired in 2020 after losing an ear to an attack by Larry.
Given these circumstances, the Starmer couple is considering their options. Initially, their teenage children wanted to adopt a German Shepherd, but considering the situation with Larry, they were persuaded to adopt a kitten instead. They also want to install a cat flap to allow Jojo and the kitten to move freely inside the house, but it is difficult to install one through the bulletproof door.
Larry, the long-time resident of Downing Street, has attracted public attention. Some are watching to see how quickly the new Prime Minister will pet Larry after moving in. Due to the high level of interest, the UK government has even planned how to announce Larry's obituary when his time comes. This plan, compared to the comprehensive response plan for Queen Elizabeth II's passing codenamed "Operation London Bridge," is reportedly codenamed "Larry Bridge."
Larry is also a celebrity among journalists covering the Prime Minister's office. When reporters are in front of 10 Downing Street for coverage, Larry approaches them and sniffs their bags, enjoying the attention. Recent polls show that Larry is more popular than Prime Minister Starmer or former Prime Minister and current opposition leader Rishi Sunak.
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