We all know Larry @Number10cat, the most loved civil servant in Britain.
But few realize the Chief Mouser tradition at 10 Downing Street goes back more than a century.
Here’s the story of the cats who came before Larry, the furry civil servants who shaped life at No. 10.
But few realize the Chief Mouser tradition at 10 Downing Street goes back more than a century.
Here’s the story of the cats who came before Larry, the furry civil servants who shaped life at No. 10.
Cats have guarded Britain’s halls of power since Henry VIII’s time. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, the Lord Chancellor, even kept one by his side.
But the official Chief Mouser role began in 1929, when the Treasury hired cats “to kill rats and mice in the Prime Minister’s residence.”
But the official Chief Mouser role began in 1929, when the Treasury hired cats “to kill rats and mice in the Prime Minister’s residence.”
They were paid one shilling a week for food (logged in petty cash), and their performance was reviewed in internal reports.
And so began the long, proud line of Britain’s government-employed mousers.
And so began the long, proud line of Britain’s government-employed mousers.
The first on record was Rufus of England aka “Treasury Bill,” an orange cat who served under Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald in 1929.
Rufus never officially held the title of Chief Mouser. He left the post in 1930, succeeded by a black cat named Peter.
Rufus never officially held the title of Chief Mouser. He left the post in 1930, succeeded by a black cat named Peter.
Peter was beloved by staff, maybe too beloved. Civil servants kept feeding him table scraps, and he stopped hunting.
To get him back to work, the Treasury set a strict budget: one penny a day for food. Bureaucracy at its finest.
To get him back to work, the Treasury set a strict budget: one penny a day for food. Bureaucracy at its finest.
Peter went on to serve five Prime Ministers, including Winston Churchill, before retiring in 1946 at the age of 17.
His successors Peter II and Peter III would carry on the legacy. More on them later.
His successors Peter II and Peter III would carry on the legacy. More on them later.
Another cat Bob served alongside Peter around the same time.
Churchill gave him a nickname -- the Munich Mouser, after the 1938 Munich Agreement.
People even wrote a poem for him:
Did Neville do right on that airplane trip?
Speak and we’ll order some fresh catnip!
Churchill gave him a nickname -- the Munich Mouser, after the 1938 Munich Agreement.
People even wrote a poem for him:
Did Neville do right on that airplane trip?
Speak and we’ll order some fresh catnip!
When Churchill became Prime Minister in 1940, he brought his own cat Nelson, a black stray who once chased off a large dog.
Churchill called him “the bravest cat I ever knew.”
Churchill called him “the bravest cat I ever knew.”
Nelson’s calm presence during air raids made him a wartime comfort at No. 10.
Churchill loved telling guests stories of his bravery, and foreign leaders sometimes sent gifts of catnip in Nelson’s honor.
He also had a little rivalry with the Munich Mouser.
Churchill loved telling guests stories of his bravery, and foreign leaders sometimes sent gifts of catnip in Nelson’s honor.
He also had a little rivalry with the Munich Mouser.
After the war, Peter II briefly took the job but was sadly hit by a car in 1947.
Peter III stepped in that same year and went on to serve until 1964, one of the longest-serving mousers in history, and a favorite among the staff.
Peter III stepped in that same year and went on to serve until 1964, one of the longest-serving mousers in history, and a favorite among the staff.
Peter III became a media darling, appearing on the Home Secretary’s Christmas card and even in Women’s Realm magazine.
He once caused a small scandal after an incident near the Cenotaph just before a royal ceremony. Still he was considered “the first superstar cat of Whitehall.”
He once caused a small scandal after an incident near the Cenotaph just before a royal ceremony. Still he was considered “the first superstar cat of Whitehall.”
After Peter III’s passing, a Manx cat named Peta arrived in 1964 as a gift from the Isle of Man.
She was ceremoniously welcomed by the Home Secretary and showered with fan mail from around the world.
She was ceremoniously welcomed by the Home Secretary and showered with fan mail from around the world.
Peta earned five shillings a week but wasn’t exactly model staff, described as “loud, lazy, and not house-trained.”
She once fought the Prime Minister’s Siamese cat, Nemo, causing a minor diplomatic incident.
But the public adored her.
She once fought the Prime Minister’s Siamese cat, Nemo, causing a minor diplomatic incident.
But the public adored her.
Then came Wilberforce, adopted from an RSPCA shelter in 1973.
He served four Prime Ministers, including Margaret Thatcher, who once brought him a can of sardines from Moscow.
Officials called him “the best mouser in Britain.”
He served four Prime Ministers, including Margaret Thatcher, who once brought him a can of sardines from Moscow.
Officials called him “the best mouser in Britain.”
Humphrey arrived in 1988, named after Sir Humphrey Appleby from Yes Minister.
He cost the Cabinet Office £100 a year and became a tabloid celebrity, even accused (and cleared) in the case of the missing robin chicks.
He cost the Cabinet Office £100 a year and became a tabloid celebrity, even accused (and cleared) in the case of the missing robin chicks.
In 1994, Humphrey made a duck “disappear,” then vanished himself, later found living at the nearby Royal Army Medical College.
He even “issued” a statement:
“I had a wonderful holiday at the Army Medical College, but it’s nice to be back.”
He even “issued” a statement:
“I had a wonderful holiday at the Army Medical College, but it’s nice to be back.”
After Humphrey’s retirement (reportedly removed by Tony Blair’s wife), Sybil, a Scottish cat belonging to Chancellor Alistair Darling, briefly took the role in 2007.
She became the second female government cat on record, and her expenses were fully covered by the Darlings.
She became the second female government cat on record, and her expenses were fully covered by the Darlings.
Then in February 2011, the day after Valentine’s Day, Larry arrived, adopted from Battersea under David Cameron.
For a while, he shared duties with Chancellor George Osborne’s tabby Freya, until she left Downing Street in late 2014.
For a while, he shared duties with Chancellor George Osborne’s tabby Freya, until she left Downing Street in late 2014.
Larry has seen six Prime Ministers come and go, befriended (and feuded with) Palmerston of the Foreign Office, and still patrols like he owns the place, which frankly, he does.
https://x.com/justin_ng/status/1963217419565936936
From Treasury Bill to Larry, Chief Mousers have outlasted cabinets, crises, and countless headlines.
Prime Ministers may come and go, but the cats of Downing Street stay, keeping calm and carrying on.
We loaf you, Larry @Number10cat 🧡
Prime Ministers may come and go, but the cats of Downing Street stay, keeping calm and carrying on.
We loaf you, Larry @Number10cat 🧡
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