<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><span></span></div><div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div><span></span></div><div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div><span></span></div><div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div>Courtesy of the <i>BBC</i> (London, England) at:</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-36772515">http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-36772515</a></div><div><br></div><div>--------------------------------</div><div><br></div><div><h1 class="story-body__h1" style="border: 0px; color: rgb(30, 30, 30); font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 2rem; line-height: 1.125; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Larry the cat escapes Downing Street eviction</h1><p class="story-body__introduction" style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375; margin: 28px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="off-screen" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); overflow: hidden; border: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Image caption</span></span></p><p class="story-body__introduction" style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375; margin: 28px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Larry the cat is to keep his job - and home - in Downing Street after it was confirmed he would be spared eviction when David Cameron leaves on Wednesday.</span></p><p class="story-body__introduction" style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375; margin: 28px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-weight: normal; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">-----</span></p><p class="story-body__introduction" style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375; margin: 28px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-weight: normal; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Larry could be seen assessing his new owner - and her leopard print flats - as Theresa May made her way in to No 10.</span></p><p class="story-body__introduction" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.375; margin: 28px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/BBC/BBC_071316_LarryTheCat_01.jpg">http://www.moscowcares.com/BBC/BBC_071316_LarryTheCat_01.jpg</a></p><p class="story-body__introduction" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.375; margin: 28px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">-----</p><p style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And the "chief mouser" will stay when Theresa May replaces Mr Cameron as UK prime minister.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"It's a civil servant's cat and does not belong to the Camerons - he will be staying," a government spokesman said.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The tabby cat, from London's Battersea Cats and Dogs Home, was brought in to Downing Street in 2011 tasked with tackling a rat problem, after a large black rat was seen scuttling past the No 10's front door in the background of a live TV broadcast.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Said to have a "strong predatory drive" and enjoy playing with mouse toys, Larry was considered to be well-suited to the post.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Larry followed in the paw prints of several Downing Street moggies, known unofficially as Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He was the first cat to hold the appointment since Humphrey - who was adopted in 1989 after wandering in to No 10 as a stray during Margaret Thatcher's premiership - was retired in 1997.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Mr Cameron said he was "delighted to welcome Larry to his new home" and that he was confident he would be "a great addition to Downing Street and will charm our many visitors".</span></p><p style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">An unofficial Twitter account set up under Larry's name tweeted on Monday: "Does anyone know a good cat groomer available tomorrow? I need to make a good impression on someone on Wednesday..." - referring to Mrs May's arrival.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">---------------------</span></p><p class="story-body__introduction" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.375; margin: 28px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Larry the Cat</span></p><p class="story-body__introduction" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.375; margin: 28px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/BBC/BBC_071316_LarryTheCat_02.jpg">http://www.moscowcares.com/BBC/BBC_071316_LarryTheCat_02.jpg</a></span></p><p style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.375; margin: 23px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The furry feline has been a familiar face on the steps outside Number 10's black door since he moved in, in 2011.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Downing Street cats: A history</strong></p><p style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">* 1920s - Rufus of England</span></p><p style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit;">* 1930s and 1940s - Munich Mouser</span></p><p style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit;">* 1970s - Wilberforce</span></p><p style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit;">* 1989 to 1997 - Humphrey</span></p><p style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit;">* 2007 - Sybil (Alistair Darling's pet cat)</span></p><p style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit;">* 2011 - Larry</span></p><div><br></div></div><div>--------------------------------</div><div><br><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>