By Kumail Jaffer Political Reporter For The Daily Mail
02:01 23 Sep 2023, up to date 02:25 23 Sep 2023
- Larry the Downing Street Cat has had clashes with Rishi Sunak’s canine Nova
- Nova the purple labrador retriever has ‘blended feelings’ about Larry, a rescue cat
He has been a fixture outdoors No 10 for over a decade – serving as Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office underneath 5 Prime Ministers.
And now Larry the Downing Street cat has come out ‘on high’ in a number of heated clashes with Rishi Sunak‘s fox purple labrador retriever.
Akshata Murty, the Prime Minister’s spouse, stated the household canine Nova had ‘blended feelings’ about Larry and that the pair did not all the time get on.
Nova was introduced into Mr Sunak’s household in 2021, when he was Chancellor, after his daughters met Boris Johnson‘s canine Dilyn and requested for their very own.
‘Nova has blended feelings as a result of she generally would not get on with Larry the cat,’ Mrs Murty advised Sky News.
‘And they’ve had some heated exchanges and Larry’s come out on high.
‘So she may need some blended opinions on dwelling right here. But, , our household is so grateful to be right here.’
Mr Sunak initially resisted adopting the canine, in response to insiders, however ‘lastly gave in’ after months of pestering from his youngsters.
Tabby cat Larry, in the meantime, was rescued from the Battersea Dogs and Cats home in 2007, the place he has been honoured with a blue plaque.
He was chosen and cared for by Downing Street employees, with the No 10 web site saying he ‘spends his days greeting visitors to the home, inspecting safety defences and testing vintage furnishings for napping high quality.’
His obligations, in the meantime, embody ‘considering an answer to the mouse occupancy of the home.’
Unfortunately for parliament’s occupants, that is nonetheless ‘in tactical starting stage’.
It’s not the primary time he has clashed with one other Downing Street pet, both – in 2012, police needed to break up a battle between Larry and ex-Chancellor George Osborne’s cat Freya.