Downing Street's chief mouser, Larry the cat, has finally caught his first mouse after two months on the job. The tabby, who was recruited to tackle a rodent problem at Number 10, was seen on Good Friday emerging from the garden with a mouse in his mouth, reportedly dropping it at the feet of the prime minister's secretaries.
Larry, a four-year-old from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, was described by the prime minister's spokesman in February as having a 'very strong predatory drive and high chase-drive and hunting instinct'. However, his initial performance fell short of expectations, with staff resorting to training him with a toy mouse.
The cat's predecessor, Humphrey, served under Margaret Thatcher and John Major but was dismissed when Tony Blair entered office in 1997, reportedly due to Cherie Blair's influence. Larry's capture marks a notable success in his role as chief mouser, a title given to cats tasked with controlling government rats.
