In instructions to his new employers he wrote: "Larry likes his breakfast at 9, brunch at 1030 and lunch at noon with plenty of snacks in between. The rest of the job is a doddle."

- Humble roots -

Recruited to deal with a rodent problem, Larry arrived at the prime minister's official residence on February 15, 2011, when David Cameron was leader.

He was adopted from a London animal shelter when he was believed to be about four years old.

Since then, the white and tabby cat, officially introduced on Downing Street's website as the "Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office", has reigned supreme from the country's most photographed doorstep.

His official biography on the Downing Street website says apart from rodent control: "Larry spends his days greeting guests to the house, inspecting security defences and testing antique furniture for napping quality."