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Larry better be careful.
The Prime Minister yesterday added a Siberian kitten to the Downing Street household, in addition to the official mouse and her own family cat, Jojo.
Sir Keir Starmer promised his children a German Shepherd when they turned 10.
But after a heated argument over Summer, they were rewarded yesterday with cats collected by her daughter.
The new addition to the Starmer family will live with Jojo, who moved in with them from her home in North London, and Larry, the resident Mouser.
Sir Keir Starmer has bought a new Siberian kitten to accompany his family in Downing Street
Despite promising German Shepherds to his children, Sir Keir bought a Siberian kitten which his daughter picked up yesterday (file photo)
Speaking to Matt Chorley on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sir Keir Starmer said the only problem with installing a cat flap was that the door to the Prime Minister’s flat is bombproof.
His confinement may be of little comfort to Larry, Downing St.’s resident mouser, who has battled with territorial and other cats.
Originally from Russia, Siberian cats have long, fluffy fur to protect them from the cold. They are hypoallergenic, so they are suitable for allergy sufferers.
They are known for resembling a dog, which helped ease the shock of not having a dog for Sir Keir’s children.
Sir Keir revealed during the election campaign that his children would like to have a dog, with an eye on a German Shepherd if they end up in Downing Street.
But since his victory in July there has been a “long summer of back and forth” over different options, the prime minister said.
“Now we are going to have a kitten instead of a dog,” she said.
“And it is an agreement after long negotiations. I said we would go into the room and sort it out.”
The new kitten becomes the third cat to live in Downing Street, joining Jojo, the Stormer family cat, and Larry, who has held the post since 2011.
However, Sir Kier said getting a cat flap was proving “difficult”: “The problem we found, which is the same with Jojo the cat, is that the only door in our new flat is bombproof,” he said.
“But our daughters convinced us that the problem is not greater for two cats than for one, and that is why we are keeping this cat now.”
Cat Protection said: “Young kittens can be exhausting for elder statesmen like Larry, so a young member of the team will also need a safe, quiet place to retreat to when their energy becomes too much.”
The kitten will join Downing Street’s chief mouser Larry, who has previously battled other cats.
Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak runs with his Labrador Nova fed to a fox
Downing Street’s pets have become a tradition for new residents.
Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak bought Nova, a fox red Labrador, while his chancellor Jeremy Hunt went on to acquire a Labrador called Poppy.
Jack Russell Delein, adopted by Boris Johnson, settled in while he was in power.
During the war years, Sir Winston Churchill kept two cats, Nelson and Munich Mouser, and a poodle named Rufus in Downing Street.
Elsewhere in the interview, Sir Kier revealed it was his 62nd birthday and he hoped to take some time off later in the year, possibly at Christmas.
Asked by reporters how Starmer would mark the occasion, his official spokesman admitted: “Sadly, I think we all forgot to wish him a happy birthday at 8.30am this morning, which I’m a bit embarrassed about.”
