The British are frightened by the health of the cat Larry, the “Chief Mouser” of Downing Street 10

At 16, Larry the cat He has already lived with five British prime ministers at 10 Downing Street. The ‘Chief Mouser’ of the UK Prime Minister’s Residence and Central Office took up his post in February 2011, nine months after David Cameron took office.

A brown and white tabby, Larry was a stray cat rescued by Battersea Dogs & Cats Home when he was chosen by Downing Street staff . Described as a “good mouse hunter” and with “a strong pursuit instinct and hunting instinct”, the animal rescue center revealed in 2012 that the popularity of the “mouse leader” had led to a 15% increase of the number of people adopting cats.

Of course, as time went on, Larry began to show his true personality. According to the Daily Telegraph, in July 2016, when Theresa May became prime minister, the feline had acquired a reputation for being “aggressive” in his interactions with other mice, particularly the much younger Foreign Office cat, Palmerston.

Between the feline duties They include “welcoming guests into the house, inspecting security defenses and testing the quality of wood in antique sleeping furniture,” details the Downing Street website. Your daily responsibilities also include consider a solution to the occupation of the house by mice . Larry says we’re still in the “tactical planning stage.”

Larry has won the hearts of the British public and the press teams who often camp in front of the main door of number 10 Downing Street, notes the portal, which adds that in turn, the nation sends him gifts and gifts daily.

But in recent days, the Larry’s health caused concern among the British. This weekend, the Sun reported that experts at 10 Downing Street feared the famous mouse catcher could be seriously ill.

According to the tabloid, “Number 10’s much-loved mouse boss has been in poor health for some time.” Therefore, British government officials worked on an emergency communications plan to decide how to break the news to the nation when the cat dies. The news is expected to be announced in an official social media post.

A Westminster source said: “Larry is well-liked not only in Downing Street but across the country. » “No one wants to think the worst, but unfortunately we have to prepare for it,” he added.

This Monday, however, the British received good news for Larry . Growing fears that the chief mouse catcher at the Prime Minister’s Residence is seriously ill have been allayed after a Downing Street spokesperson told ITV News: ‘I would say he is happy and healthy “, he said of the old cat.

Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, an account with 834,000 followers identifying itself as Larry the Cat mocked officials who said he was “happy and healthy.” The story read: “I am in good health, but you’re trying to be happy after living with five conservative prime ministers “.

Jokes aside, the news was well received by fans of the feline. “I’m happy to know that Larry the Cat, Chief Mouser, always healthy “, said a person named Jane on the same social network. “I know he doesn’t have many years left to run the country, but I can’t imagine Downing Street without him,” he said. added. “I’m so relieved to hear that,” said Ed Clarke, another Larry fan.