Now Andy Burnham is the UK’s new prime minister, it won’t just be him heading down south to number 10 Downing Street. Along with his family, he will probably bring along his rescue dog, Axel.
This might cause some challenges with a long-term resident of the famous property: Larry the cat.
Larry has seen a lot of prime ministers during his tenancy on Downing Street, and is a vital ally for any politician in power to get on side. How can Andy win him over? And how can he ensure the arrival of his dog, Axel, doesn’t incur Larry’s wrath? Let’s dig in.
Who is Larry the cat?
The 19-year-old cat was born a stray and brought into Battersea Cats & Dogs Home before being adopted by Downing Street staff in 2011 – originally intended as a pet for the then-PM David Cameron’s children. He quickly landed a top job as Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, with duties described as ‘greeting guests to the house, inspecting security defences and testing antique furniture for napping quality’, along with ‘contemplating a solution to the mouse occupancy of the house’. So it’s a big job, but one Larry has continued to nail for well over a decade – the government’s website says the cat has ‘made a significant impact’ in his career.
Did Larry the cat get on with previous Prime Ministers (and their pets)?
When David Cameron left his post in 2016, he confirmed in his final PMQs that Larry would remain at 10 Downing Street as he is a civil servant, not any PM’s pet. Since then Larry has outlasted six prime ministers – David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer – along with other animals with government connections. Boris and Carrie Johnson’s dog, Dilyn, moved in to Number 10 but left when Boris did. Rishi Sunak’s wife, Akshata Murty, said that Larry had a number of ‘heated exchanges’ with their dog, Nova. Keir Starmer brought in not one but two additional cats, the family’s longtime pet, Jojo, and later, the Siberian kitten, Prince. In 2024, Keir stated that both Prince and JoJo were ‘kept away from’ Larry.
There was a brief period during which there were two cats sharing the role of Chief Mouser, with Freya introduced to 11 Downing Street by George Osborne. Freya later moved to the countryside and passed away at the age of 13.
Through it all, Larry has remained.
His relationships with each Prime Minister have been a mixed bag. A book by political commentator Matthew d’Ancona suggested that the Cameron family didn’t like Larry and had used the cat as a ‘PR prop’, which led to David Cameron to say Larry was in fact ‘much loved’. Theresa May has said she’s more of a dog person, which we doubt impressed Larry. Boris and Larry don’t seem to have got on, with Boris referring to Larry as ‘a bit of a thug’ (rude). Larry famously snubbed Liz Truss when she tried to give him a stroke between his ears, perhaps because the momentary PM had a framed photo of herself with a dog. Neither Rishi Sunak nor Keir Starmer publicly commented on their relationships with Larry, which we suspect indicates they were not particularly close.
How Andy Burnham can impress Larry – and how to get any cat to like you
So, should the big move happen, how can Andy Burnham make a good impression on this particularly powerful political force? When it comes to bonding with any cat, Iryna Smyrnova, a veterinarian at Meowoff, advises letting the cat take the lead: ‘The most effective method of developing a trusting bond with your cat involves giving your cat the freedom to guide the rate at which you develop the bond.’
Rather than chasing around a cat to force them into cuddles and strokes, be patient and let them come to you. ‘Allow your cat to initiate contact, rather than forcing your cat into an unwanted encounter,’ says Iryna. ‘I would advise against attempting to force physical contact, lifting your cat without permission, pursuing/chasing your cat, cornering your cat when it needs personal space, directly staring at your cat, yelling loudly at your cat, and/or making sudden/rapid movements around your cat. Many cats will react negatively (and possibly defensively) toward these behaviours; especially those who are naturally timid/shy or who have developed negative experiences in the past.’
Cats like to feel in control, and predictable routine will go a long way. Associate your presence with positive things at predictable moments – such as providing treats or playtime when you enter the house. ‘Trust grows when the cat learns that your presence predicts good things,’ explains vet Dr Sarah Wooten. ‘Meals, treats, gentle play with a wand toy, and predictable daily routines can all help a cat feel secure. Interactive play is especially useful because it allows the cat to engage without feeling trapped by physical contact.’
As Larry has lived at 10 Downing Street for such a long time, he likely already feels secure there. But for anyone else trying to win over a cat, it’s important to provide spaces for the animal to retreat to.
Also vital is reading a cat’s body language and giving them space when they’re (nonverbally) asking for it. ‘Signs that a cat is comfortable may include soft eyes, slow blinking, relaxed posture, approaching voluntarily, rubbing, purring with loose body language, or choosing to rest nearby,’ notes Dr Sarah. ‘Signs of stress include hiding, flattened ears, tail swishing, crouching, growling, hissing, dilated pupils, avoiding contact, over-grooming, reduced appetite, or litter box changes.’
One other thing, from canine and feline behaviour consultant Ali Smith of maven pet: ‘Move in arches around them. Straight lines are a very human thing, cats (and dogs!) respect bubbles a lot more.’
How to introduce a cat and dog
Andy Burnham plans to set up a ‘No 10 North’ in Manchester, so it seems likely that his dog, Axel, will stay up north rather than moving in with Larry. But in case they do need to be introduced, we asked vets for their top tips on helping dogs and cats get along.
Start with separation
‘Separation is key,’ says Ali. ‘I’d ensure they cannot touch or come into contact fully at all to begin with.’ For the first few days, don’t allow the cat and dog to see each other, and slowly allow them to become accustomed to each other’s scents by letting them sniff shared bedding, blankets or toys.
Never allow chasing
Ali explains: ‘With dogs something we have to consider is prey drive They often have a desire to chase the cat.’ This should never, ever be allowed, even if it seems playful – it can seriously distress a cat. Iryna says allowing chasing is one of the ‘largest errors’ she sees: ‘this establishes patterns of behaviour that are difficult to alter once established and extremely stressful for the cat.’
Reward good (boring) behaviour
‘We need to ensure we reward the dog (and the cat) for being relaxed in each other’s company,’ says Ali. ‘Initially, that might start by rewarding them for seeing each other and not jumping to go mode.’ Sarah agrees: ‘Reward calm behavior, looking away from the cat, responding to cues, and settling. Good signs include the dog noticing the cat and then looking away, relaxing on leash, taking treats, responding to cues, or settling. For the cat, good signs include eating, grooming, exploring, resting, approaching the barrier voluntarily, or watching the dog without panic. Calm coexistence is the goal before friendship.’
Take it (very) slow
Creating a good cat and dog relationship requires a lot of patience. Dr Sarah says: ‘Start with complete separation, then scent swapping, then feeding on opposite sides of a closed door, then brief visual exposure through a barrier. Only move to the next step when both animals are calm. If either animal is highly aroused, fearful, lunging, fixating, hiding or refusing food, the process is moving too fast.’
Ensure both animals have their own safe zones
‘The cat should have a dog and child-free room/space with food, water, litter, bedding, scratching surfaces and hiding spots,’ notes Sarah. On that theme, providing escape routes is essential. Never trap a cat and dog in a room together. Cats particularly like vertical escape options, meaning things that allow them to get up high – think cat trees, raised beds or ladders.
Tailor your approach to the specific dog and cat
‘It really depends on the cat itself and the dog’s personality and previous experiences,’ says dog behaviourist and trainer Louise Glazebrook. ‘There is no one-size-fits-all situation.’ While all the above tips should help, you’re likely to know your pets’ individual quirks and preferences best.
Know when to call it quits... or call in help
‘Not every dog and cat will become friends, and that’s OK,’ says Sarah. ‘Some dogs are just not good with cats. Some can safely coexist with structure, barriers, separate resting areas and supervised interaction. Others may never be safe together. If there’s repeated chasing, intense fixation, aggression, injury risk or severe stress in either animal, owners should seek help from a veterinarian, veterinary behaviourist, certified trainer, or qualified feline behaviour professional.’
If Axel and Larry are instant enemies and show no signs of warming up to each other, the correct response is not to force it, but to keep them apart.
If Andy and Larry are instant enemies and show no signs of warming up to each other... Andy’s in for a very bumpy ride as PM. The nation loves Larry, and if we had to choose between one or the other, we know which side we’re taking.
