Freya (cat) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Freya
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| Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office | |
| In role 16 September 2012 – 9 November 2014 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Sybil (2009) |
| Succeeded by | Larry |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. April 2009 (age 16) London |
| Occupation | Mouser |
| Gender | Female |
| Owned by | George Osborne |
| Namesake | Freyja |
Freya (born around April 2009) is a special tabby cat. She is owned by George Osborne and his family. George Osborne used to be a very important person in the UK government. He was called the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Freya had an exciting life. She went missing when she was just a tiny kitten. For a while, her family thought she was lost forever. But then, three years later, they got a surprising call! Freya was found alive and well. She came back home to her family. Later, Freya even got a very important job. She became the Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office. This means she helped catch mice at the Prime Minister's home, Downing Street. She shared this job with another famous cat named Larry. In 2014, Freya retired from her important role and moved to the peaceful countryside.
Freya's Exciting Career
Freya became famous for her job at Downing Street. This is where the Prime Minister lives and works. On September 16, 2012, a newspaper reported that Freya was taking over as the main mouse-catcher. The Prime Minister, David Cameron, was apparently not happy with the other cat, Larry. Larry was a bit lazy and didn't always chase mice.
The story goes that Larry was sleeping on a chair. A mouse ran right past him, but Larry didn't even move! This made the Prime Minister decide to bring in Freya. Freya was known for being a very good hunter. She was tough and knew how to catch mice. People thought her time as a stray cat had made her very skilled.
Freya's job was to patrol three important buildings: Number 10, Number 11, and Number 12 Downing Street. These buildings are full of important government offices. Freya was seen as the stronger cat compared to Larry. She was much better at catching mice.
Life at Downing Street
Being a working cat at Downing Street wasn't always easy. Freya was one of many cats working for the government. Their job is to keep mice away from important places. On October 16, 2012, Freya and Larry even had a fight outside Number 10! Police officers had to break it up. Reports said Freya seemed to win the fight.
The Prime Minister's team said that Freya and Larry could "co-exist." This means they could live together, even if they sometimes argued. They didn't want to talk too much about the cats' adventures.
Freya also had some adventures outside of work. In May 2014, she wandered far from Downing Street. A kind charity worker had to rescue her and bring her back home. Then, in August 2014, Freya was hit by a car. This happened on a street called Whitehall, near Downing Street. Luckily, she was treated by a vet and got better. George Osborne, her owner, was very thankful to everyone who helped Freya.
After these events, Freya's family decided it was time for her to retire. She loved to roam around, so they sent her to the peaceful Kent countryside. There, she could explore and enjoy her retirement away from the busy city.
