Sir Keir Starmer has revealed his new family kitten, Prince, has not yet met Downing Street’s famous mouse catcher Larry the cat.
The Starmer family adopted their new pet Prince, a Siberian kitten, shortly after moving into Downing Street, meaning Larry faced fierce competition as No 10’s chief mouser.
The prime minister previously revealed he let his children get the kitten after “a long summer of negotiations”, though they originally pleaded with him to get a dog.
Larry the cat – whose title is chief mouser to the Cabinet Office – is Downing Street’s most famous feline occupant, often appearing in photographs and video amid important political moments.
Since the Starmer family moved in, Larry has been joined by their rescue cat Jojo and now Prince.
Asked for an update on the Starmer family kitten on Monday, Sir Keir told ITV: “Prince is the name of the kitten.
“So, Prince and Larry haven’t met yet. I am worried that Larry will come off the better – the kitten is tiny.”
Larry, now 17 years old, is thought to be in his final years, having already outlived the average lifespan for a tabby.
Downing Street officials have reportedly prepared a “media plan” to announce his eventual death.
Pictures, selected to be published upon news of his death, are reportedly stored in folders on the No 10 IT system as part of a plan to inform the public.
The cat, who was adopted from Battersea Cats Home, was first brought into Downing Street by David Cameron as a pet for his children and has since outlasted five prime ministers.
However, not everyone is the biggest fan of Larry. Labour minister Ian Murray recently joked Larry is a “little s**t”, and the “most miserable animal you’ll ever meet in your life”.
Former prime minister Boris Johnson once branded Larry a “thug” who “mauled” his Jack Russell-cross Dilyn after he tried to steal the tabby’s food.
The Cabinet Office website includes a biography of the beloved cat, which reads: “Larry has been in residence since 15 February 2011, he is the first cat at Number 10 to be bestowed with the official title chief mouser.
“Larry was recruited from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home on recommendation for his mousing skills. He joined the Number 10 household and has made a significant impact.”