Monday, June 12, 2023

Larry the cat

From Interesting Facts: "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."