In the world of politics, where diplomacy and protocol rule every step, sometimes it is unexpected heroes who steal the whole show. This was the case during the visit of President Karol Nawrocki to the London residence of Prime Minister of Great Britain at 10 Downing Street. The main star, however, was not one of the politicians, but... cat Larry, the legendary "major gerbil" of the British government. This furry Downing Street resident not only attracted the attention of the media, but even caused the comic chaos that swept the Internet in a flash. But who is this charismatic cat, and how did this funny incident happen?
Beginnings of Legend: From the Hostel to the Heart of British Politics
Larry's story begins in January 2007, when he was born a homeless kitten in London's Wandsworth district. As a young cat, he went to the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home shelter, where he quickly drew attention to himself with his hunting skills. In 2011, in the days of Prime Minister David Cameron, Larry was adopted and appointed official "Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office" – the main gerbil in the Prime Minister's office. His task was to combat the rodent plague in a historic building on 10 Downing Street, but he quickly became something more: a symbol of British tradition and a media favourite.
Larry survived the changes in government and served under six premieres: David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and now Keir Starmer. He is a record holder among cats on Downing Street – no other fur has survived so many political storms. The government's official website describes his daily duties as "welcome guests, safety defense inspection and testing antique furniture for the quality of naps". In fact Larry became an icon of pop culture: he has his own profile on X (formerly Twitter) called @Number10cat, where he shares "official" comments on current events. His rivalries with other government cats, such as Palmerston from Foreign Office, or skirmishes with pigeons, regularly hit headlines.
For years Larry became part of the British identity. In 2021 he celebrated his 10th anniversary of service, and in 2025 his story inspired even a television show. As one of the anecdotes says, Larry is the only resident of Downing Street who doesn't have to worry about the election – his position is unquestionable.
Sensational Incident: Larry Steals Show to President Nawrock
On January 13, 2026, Downing Street became the scene of a historic meeting. Polish President Karol Nawrocki came to London for talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Subjects? Strengthen bilateral relations, cooperation in defence, trade and education, and support for Ukraine in the context of NATO and European security. This is Nawrocki's first visit to the UK as head of state, which was emphasized as a symbol of close ties between Poland and the UK.
However, what was to be a routine welcome on the red carpet turned into a comic spectacle thanks to Larry. As politicians left the building, the cat suddenly jumped outside, running on the carpet with determination worthy of an Olympic. The photographer of President Mikołaj Bujak, trying to capture the moment, had to make an acrobatic jump to avoid stumbling over the fur – holding two cameras in his hands! A photo of this incident, published by Nicholas Bujak himself (@mikolay_bk), became a vortex: "Larry, don’t do this to me again! 🥹"The photographer wrote.
Other relations with X only warmed the atmosphere. Max Hübner (@HubnerrMax) released a video with the signature "This is the moment :)", showing the event in video form.
Alicja Stefaniuk (@stefaniuk_ala), photographer of the First Lady of the Republic of Poland, added: "Larry does not regret anything", taking a cat looking happy with himself.
Larry's official profile (@Number10cat) commented on the meeting: "Nice to meet you, Mr President".
The incident not only entertained netizens, but also highlighted how Larry could relieve tension in the world of politics. President Nawrocki, known for his sense of humor, reportedly commented on this with a smile, and the Polish-British media called the cat a "major diplomat". It's not the first time Larry has been stealing attention – he had had a previous "fight" with journalists or guests like Barack Obama or Donald Trump.
