Downing Street officials draw up plans for how to announce death of Larry the Cat: Officials are ready for the day that Number 10’s 17-year-old ‘chief mouser’ finally heads to the Big Cattery in the sky

Downing Street officials have drawn up plans for when ‘chief mouser’ Larry the Cat finally runs out of his nine lives.

Codenamed ‘Larry Bridges’, a nod to bridge operations for the death of prominent royals, preparations have been quietly put in place for when the 17-year-old passes away.

Larry has been the one constant resident at Number 10, amid the recent revolving door of prime ministers and chancellors.

In his time as ‘chief mouser’ Larry has seen six prime ministers come and go, from David Cameron to current occupant Sir Keir Starmer. 

He arrived at the famous address after being taken in from Battersea Cats and Dogs Home back in 2011 as a pet for Mr Cameron’s children.

Plans have been quietly made by Downing Street officials on how to announce the death of Larry the Cat when the sad moment arrives

Larry involved in a tussle with his former nemesis Chief Mouser Palmerston, the Foreign Office cat in 2016

Larry has seen six prime ministers during his time living behind the famous black door

But he has since outlasted the tenures of Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, before welcoming the current Labour government. 

Officials have now ironed out details as to how to break the news to the nation when the sad moment arrives, the Times reported.

Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral plans were codenamed Operation London Bridge, while the plans for the King’s death are known as Operation Menai Bridge, after the eponymous strait in Wales.

Larry’s official role is described as ‘inspecting security defences and testing antique furniture for napping quality’, as well as ‘contemplating a solution to the mouse occupancy of the house’. 

The tabby cat’s record-breaking tenure as ‘chief mouser’ was confirmed when he beat Peter III, who lived at Downing Street from 1947 until 1964. 

No stranger to the odd tussle, Larry has had testy relationships with other Government cats – including a long-standing four-year feud with his former nemesis, the Foreign Office’s Chief Mouser Palmerston, who retired from his post in 2019. 

Police also had to break up a fight between Larry and then chancellor George Osborne’s cat Freya. 

Not shy with his attitude towards politicians, the famous feline also gave short-lived prime minister Liz Truss the cold shoulder while the former leader was introducing him to her Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy strokes Larry as he arrives at Number 10 for a cabinet meeting on August 6

Larry looks out of the window from inside 10 Downing Street following the results of the July general election

Since Sir Keir entered the black door, Larry has been joined by the Labour leader’s rescue cat JoJo. 

The Prime Minister has spoken of his fondness for JoJo, who his family got from a rescue centre, even joking that the cat ‘is treated with far more respect in our household than I am’.

He said: ‘When I walk through the door I have to put the baggage of being leader of the Labour Party down, I’m Dad and I’m fair game for the kids to ridicule me, laugh at me.

‘But JoJo, on the other hand, if JoJo wants food, or a seat on the settee, or to sit on the kid’s bed he’s got pride of place.’

Responding online to speculation about his funeral plans, Larry’s parody account, which has over 800,000 followers, suggested he would like to be stuffed and placed above a fireplace at No 10 as a reminder to future PMs not to ‘do anything stupid’.

A post on the spoof @Number10cat profile said: ‘Plans are being made for how to announce my passing when that sad day comes. 

‘My wish is to be stuffed and placed above a fireplace in Downing Street as a constant reminder that the inhabitants shouldn’t do anything stupid.’