After announcing his resignation as British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer will soon leave 10 Downing Street. But while political leaders continue to come and go, one resident remains firmly in place — Larry the Cat. 

The United Kingdom government’s official “Chief Mouser” has been living at Downing Street since 2011 and is now preparing to welcome his seventh prime minister. Over the past 15 years, Larry has become one of the most recognisable faces in British politics, outlasting six prime ministers and countless political crises. 

The 19-year-old feline was adopted from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in February 2011 by then-prime minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha. At the time, Cameron said he was delighted to welcome Larry to Downing Street and expressed confidence that the cat would become a popular addition to the famous address. 

Unlike the prime ministers he serves alongside, Larry is not personally owned by any political leader. Instead, he is considered an official resident of Number 10 and carries the title of Chief Mouser, a role that involves helping control the rodent population around the prime minister’s residence. 

The tradition of keeping cats in government buildings dates back more than a century, with records of feline residents in royal and government properties stretching back to the reign of King Henry VIII. Larry became the first official Downing Street cat since Humphrey, who served from 1989 until his retirement in 1997.

Now equivalent to more than 90 human years, Larry remains a popular attraction among tourists, journalists and political observers. He is frequently photographed lounging outside the iconic black door of Number 10, chasing pigeons or making surprise appearances during major political events.

With Starmer’s departure, Britain’s political landscape is set for another change. Larry, however, will continue his duties as Downing Street’s longest-serving resident, ready to greet yet another prime minister as the revolving door of British politics spins once more. (Herald)

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The Walapane Police have arrested a 26-year-old man following an investigation into a video that recently sparked outrage on social media, showing a cat being brutally abused.

Following the circulation of the footage and strong protests from animal welfare groups, the Police arrested the suspect seen in the video on February 8.

The suspect is a 26‑year‑old mechanic from Thibbatugoda. 

He was produced before the Walapane Magistrate’s Court the same day, where the court ordered him to be remanded for 14 days until February 24.

The Police further stated that the court directed a medical examination of the suspect’s mental condition and requested a report. (Newswire)

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A cheeky cat managed to sneak onto a Ryanair plane as it was preparing to take off – causing two days’ worth of delays for passengers.

Crew members could hear the mischievous moggy meowing and called maintenance staff to the scene, where several panels from the Boeing 737 were removed to reveal the cat hiding inside the electrical bay. A photograph of the pesky tuxedo cat, which showed it peering out of its hiding place, was snapped by workers.

The cat then caused further problems by deciding to run through the wiring of the plane. It meant the flight had to be cancelled and several cargo panels were removed to track the animal, which kept moving around in an effort to stay on board. Eventually, the cat snuck out of the plane and made its way down the stairs after a door was left open.

An image was later taken of the animal walking across the runway. The Ryanair jet was preparing to leave the airport in Rome last week with the incident happened, and the plane was grounded for two whole days before it finally headed to Germany, NeedToKnow reports.

A source said the stowaway could have caused major problems at an altitude of 30,000ft. They also said it could have been pretty costly, potentially setting the Irish airline back tens of thousands of pounds. The Mirror has contacted Ryanair for comment. (Mirror)

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