Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office |
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| Government of the United Kingdom Prime Minister's Office Cabinet Office |
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| Residence | 10 Downing Street |
| Appointer | Prime Minister of the United Kingdom |
| Term length | No set length; ends on retirement or death |
| Inaugural holder | Cardinal Wolsey's cat |
| Formation | c. 1515 Title first used around 1997 |
The Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office is the special title given to the official cat living at 10 Downing Street in London. This famous address is where the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom lives and works. For hundreds of years, there has been a cat at Downing Street to help catch mice and be a friendly pet.
Even though cats have been there for a long time, the official title of "Chief Mouser" was first given to Larry in 2011. Before Larry, the newspapers and public often used this fun title for other cats too. People sometimes joke that these cats are actual government employees involved in politics!
Contents
History of the Chief Mouser Role
Early Cats in Government
Cats have been helping out in the English government since the 1500s. One of the earliest known cats belonged to Thomas Wolsey, a powerful leader under King Henry VIII. Wolsey's cat would even sit by his side during important court meetings!
Official records about these government cats only go back to 1929. Back then, the Treasury department approved a small amount of money each day to take care of an "efficient cat." This shows how important these feline helpers were considered. Over time, the allowance for the cats increased.
Cats and Prime Ministers
The Chief Mouser doesn't usually belong to the Prime Minister who lives at Downing Street. In fact, a cat's time in office often lasts longer than a Prime Minister's! This means one cat can serve under many different leaders.
For example, a cat named Peter III was the Chief Mouser for over 16 years. He worked for five different Prime Ministers during his time at Downing Street.
Larry's Story: From Shelter to Downing Street
The cat who held the title before Larry was Sybil. She started her job in 2007 but left in 2009. After Sybil left, there wasn't an official Chief Mouser for a while.
In January 2011, some rats were seen scurrying around Downing Street. News reports even showed them during TV broadcasts! People started wondering if a new cat was needed to solve the problem.
Soon after, it was announced that a cat named "Larry" would be brought in. Larry was chosen by the Prime Minister at the time, David Cameron, and his family. Larry came from the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, a famous animal rescue center. He officially started his role on February 15, 2011, becoming the first cat to be given the "Chief Mouser" title officially.
Larry is still the Chief Mouser today, serving under several Prime Ministers since 2011, including Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, and now Keir Starmer. He is the only Chief Mouser listed on the official website for 10 Downing Street.
List of Chief Mousers
| Name | Began tenure | Ended tenure | Prime Minister(s) | Notes |
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| Rufus of England (nicknamed "Treasury Bill") | 1924 | c. 1930 | Ramsay MacDonald | |
| Peter | 1929 | 1946 | Stanley Baldwin, Ramsay MacDonald, Neville Chamberlain, Winston Churchill, Clement Attlee | |
| Munich Mouser | 1937–40 | 1943 | Neville Chamberlain, Winston Churchill | |
| Nelson | 1940s | Winston Churchill | ||
| Peter II | 1946 | 1947 | Clement Attlee | |
| Peter III | 1947 | 1964 | Clement Attlee, Winston Churchill, Anthony Eden, Harold Macmillan, Alec Douglas-Home | Served for over 16 years |
| Peta | 1964 | c. 1976 | Alec Douglas-Home, Harold Wilson, Edward Heath | |
| Wilberforce | 1973 | 1987 | Edward Heath, Harold Wilson, Jim Callaghan, Margaret Thatcher | |
| Humphrey | 1989 | 1997 | Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair | |
| Sybil | 2007 | 2009 | Gordon Brown | |
| Larry | 2011 | current | David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer | First cat officially given the title |
| Freya | 2012 | 2014 | David Cameron | Lived with the Chancellor of the Exchequer |
Timeline of Chief Mousers
Other Famous Government Cats
- Gladstone (cat) – This cat was the chief mouser for the HM Treasury, another important government department.
- Palmerston (cat) – This cat worked as the chief mouser for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
- Tibs the Great – This cat was known as the British Post Office's "number one cat."
See also
In Spanish: Ratonero jefe de la Oficina del Gabinete para niños
