In a world of politics, where diplomacy and protocol govern every step, sometimes unexpected heroes steal the whole show. That was the case during President Karol Nawrocki’s visit to the London residence of the British Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street. The main star turned out to be none of the politicians, but… Larry the cat, the legendary „Chief Mouser” of the British government. This furry Downing Street resident not only drew media attention, but also sparked a comical commotion that spread across the Internet in no time. But who exactly is this charismatic cat, and how did this funny incident happen?
The Origins of a Legend: From Shelter to the Heart of British Politics
Larry’s story begins in January 2007, when he was born as a stray kitten in the London district of Wandsworth. As a young cat, he went to the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home shelter, where he quickly caught attention with his hunting skills. In 2011, during the time of Prime Minister David Cameron, Larry was adopted and appointed as the official „Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office” – the chief mouser in the Prime Minister’s office. His job was to combat a plague of rodents in the historic building at 10 Downing Street, but he soon became something more: a symbol of British tradition and a media favorite.
Larry has survived changes of government and has served under six prime ministers: David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and currently Keir Starmer. He is a record holder among cats at Downing Street – no other feline has survived so many political storms. The official government website describes his daily duties as „greeting guests, inspecting security defenses and testing antique furniture for nap quality”. In reality, Larry has become a pop culture icon: he has his own profile on X (formerly Twitter) under the name @Number10cat, where he shares „official” comments on current events. His rivalries with other government cats, such as Palmerston from the Foreign Office, or skirmishes with pigeons, regularly make the front pages of newspapers.
Over the years, Larry has become part of British identity. In 2021 he marked 10 years of service, and in 2025 his story even inspired a TV programme. As one anecdote goes, Larry is the only resident of Downing Street who does not need to worry about elections – his position is unassailable.
The Sensational Incident: Larry Steals the Show from President Nawrocki
On 13 January 2026, Downing Street became the stage for a historic meeting. Polish President Karol Nawrocki arrived in London for talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The topics? Strengthening bilateral relations, cooperation in defence, trade and education, as well as support for Ukraine in the context of NATO and European security. It is Nawrocki’s first visit to the United Kingdom as head of state, which was highlighted as a symbol of the close ties between Poland and the UK.
However, what was meant to be a routine welcome on the red carpet turned into a comical spectacle thanks to Larry. As the politicians were leaving the building, the cat suddenly darted outside, running along the carpet with the determination of an Olympian. Presidential photographer Mikołaj Bujak, trying to capture the moment, had to make an acrobatic leap so as not to trip over the furball – while holding two cameras in his hands! A photo of the incident, published by Mikołaj Bujak himself (@mikolaj_bk), went viral: „Larry, don’t do this to me again! 🥹” the photographer wrote.
Other posts on X only heated up the atmosphere. Max Hübner (@HubnerrMax) shared a video captioned „That moment :)”, showing the event on video.
Alicja Stefaniuk (@stefaniuk_ala), photographer of the First Lady of Poland, added: „Larry has no regrets”, along with a shot of the cat looking pleased with himself.
Larry’s official profile (@Number10cat) commented on the meeting: „Pleased to meet you, Mr President”.
The incident not only amused internet users, but also showed how Larry can defuse tension in the world of politics. President Nawrocki, known for his sense of humour, reportedly commented on it with a smile, while Polish and British media dubbed the cat the „chief diplomat”. This is not the first time Larry has stolen the attention – previously he had „clashes” with journalists and guests such as Barack Obama and Donald Trump.
