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Larry the Downing Street cat lays on the sidewalk, in London on Wednesday, the day the prime minister stepped down.
After six years at 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister David Cameron is moving out. However, one member of the household is sticking around.
His name is Larry — Larry the cat.
Adopted in 2011 from the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Larry was brought to the Prime Minister's Office to combat a rodent problem. Working under the title of “chief mouse catcher,” Larry has become quite the local celebrity.
He even has a Twitter account.
Cameron resigned Wednesday, making way for new Prime Minister Theresa May to move into 10 Downing Street. Many Londoners have expressed concern over Larry’s fate. Some wonder whether the outgoing leader will actually miss the feline. Cameron’s dismissed this rumor with photographic evidence, publicly displaying a photo of Larry snuggling on his lap.
Naturally, it’s gone viral.
“I think it’d be quite telling for a prime minister in the 21st century for their final act to be posting a cat picture on Facebook,” says Steve Jones, social media editor for the UK’s Press Association news agency.
Given that 10 Downing’s new residents are free of cat allergies, Jones expects the famous feline to lounge around for a while longer.
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