In May 2014 she was found roaming the streets of south London by a charity worker; when her identity was discovered she was chauffeur-driven back to base. All kinds of political humour was bandied about: The two cats have a sort of armed neutrality towards each other, although a photo was published of them having a bit of a sparring match on one occasion. The then Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, faced questions in the House of Commons as to whether Palmerston the cat was a spy, possibly a mole or 'sleeper' working for the European Union or a foreign power, and whether he had been checked by the security services. Le numéro 10 est la résidence officielle du Premier ministre. There's a story that when he began to decline in his latter years, becoming thin and rather languid, the Secretary to the Treasury submitted a claim to the Lords of the Treasury that Bill's food allowance was insufficient owing to a sharp rise in the cost of living, and should be increased by at least fifty per cent. This occurred on at least two occasions during live reports by BBC and ITN correspondents, and several videos are available at YouTube and elsewhere: here's one, and of course the story was also covered in the press and extensively online. Freya went missing from the Osbornes' house in Notting Hill when she was just a few months old, and after searching West London for her, the family assumed she had died or had become lost. Larry, a famous cat who lives around 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the Prime Minister of Great Britain, is known as the “Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office. By the end of the day in Britain, news of Larry's arrival, photos and videos had circled the globe online. We were all sorry to learn, today, of his death, and we shall all remember the Downing Street cat with great affection. Copied. Freya. He turned to his desk and made a note: 'Treasury vote: approve increase in cat's pay.' Par métonymie, le 10 Downing Street sert parfois à désigner le Premier ministre ou son administration. [38] In September 2012, Freya was appointed to share the role of Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office. 11 Downing Street … ", On 1 August 2016, according to the political photographer Steve Beck, Larry had his "most brutal fight yet" with Palmerston on the steps of Number 10. Shortly after his arrival a story was circulated that his former owner had stepped forward after seeing his story in the media. I’m in charge now.” As he has moved from his favourite doorstep outside Number 10 to take up … Larry also managed to get himself into Google Street View! A change of prime minister in July 2016 could have seen a change in his status, but it was reported that he would be staying on and carrying on with his rodent patrols under Mrs May's jurisdiction. Articles in Famous Felines are written by She will make her home in the residential quarters of Number 10. (But see below ...). Wilberforce [9] On 28 August 2012, Larry made his first public killing, dropping his prey on the lawn in front of Number 10. A Guardian political correspondent, after checking with No. Liste des chats du 10, Downing Street. [22], In June 2019, in what was described in the press as a photobombing, Larry was visible on the window ledge outside Number 10 as Theresa May and her husband Philip May posed with U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump at the start of Trump's state visit to the United Kingdom; he later sheltered from the rain under Trump's armoured Cadillac and could not be coaxed out, leading Jon Sopel of the BBC to tweet: "BREAKING: anti-Trump demonstrators fail to stop @realDonaldTrump motorcade, but @Number10cat does". His age was estimated at between three and five years old, and he had been rescued in early January from the London streets where it was thought he'd been living rough for some little time. Unfortunately Sybil's tenure was short-lived. On 25 May there was more excitement for Larry when he met Barack Obama during the American President and First Lady's state visit to Britain. [13] The Labour Party has confirmed that in the event of a Labour government, Larry would remain as Chief Mouser. For the first couple of weeks the cats had their base in a very plush and comfortable office, and have since learned their way around the building very well. Fragments | The black-and-white feline proved to be a terrific mouser; he also outlasted several later prime ministers as well as Heath. He was found by a member of the Cabinet Office staff (70 Whitehall, next to the prime minister's London residence of No. "Number 10 cat Larry loses collar in 'most brutal fight yet' with Foreign Office's Palmerston", "Will Larry cope with Dilyn in Downing Street? He was famous for two things: his fights with Larry, the Downing Street cat, and being more popular than his boss. Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his family live in the flat above Number 11. At the time it was said he'd be able to access almost all parts of Nos. [38], "Larry vs Palmerston is the real fight in Westminster", "Larry the cat to join David Cameron in Downing Street", "Churnalism or news? There was speculation that perhaps Freya had been recruited to spy had perhaps even been bugged, by a foreign power. [18] When leaving office in 2016, Cameron spoke of his "sadness" that he could not take Larry with him. [30] In July of that year, Palmerston entered Number 10 and had to be forcibly evicted by security staff. Battersea Dogs and Cats Home helpfully pointed out that they had many rescued cats on their books, waiting to be rehomed, who would be admirable for the job. He was said to spend too much time either sleeping or visiting his 'girl friend', a cat called Maisie, in St James's Park! Then in 1994, during John Major's tenure, he was accused of killing baby robins in the No. Some lovely images came out of the photocall, two of which we reproduce here (left, and above right). In December 2016 two new staff members, Evie and Ossie, arrived in the Cabinet Office, bringing the total of government felines to five! [7] Fund-raising events to pay for his food are believed to have included a quiz night for Downing Street staff held in the state rooms. Their lordships replied that after giving 'careful consideration to the matter' they were 'unable to approve a rise'.