Video of UK cop helping cat is ‘the most British thing you’ll see today’

Brits are notoriously polite and none have proved that more so than a police officer who was caught on camera leaving his post to help the government’s official cat inside 10 Downing Street. 

Larry the cat, as he’s affectionately known, was seen patiently waiting outside the front door of 10 Downing Street during a BBC broadcast on Tuesday, hoping for someone to let him inside. 

The brown-and-white cat sat on the doorsteps as the television cameras continued to film out front, with footage capturing the officer shooting a few side glances at Larry to check he was ok. At one point, the 12-year-old tabby, who was recused from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home for a cushy life at the prime minister’s residence, turned to glance at the television cameras, as if to say ‘Are you seriously not going to help me?’

Thankfully, a police officer quickly came to his rescue, knocking on the door, which promptly opened to allow Larry to zip straight inside.

The clip of the funny exchange was posted to Twitter by the BBC on Wednesday, has since been viewed more than 750,000 times.

The network captioned the post: “The most British thing you’ll see today happened in Downing Street this morning, and it involved @Number10Cat and a thoughtful police officer.”

The most British thing you'll see today happened in Downing Street this morning, and it involved @Number10Cat and a thoughtful police officer

[tap video to expand] pic.twitter.com/patlVNAFQW

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) November 20, 2018

Brits were quick to comment on the cheeky video, with one writing: “The cat’s looking at the camera like ‘can you do something about this, mate’.”

Another added: “I tell you, that cat is in charge.”

And a third wrote: “We humans are here to serve felines, thought everyone knew that? Larry is just doing what comes naturally!”

The Sky News reporter also commented, adding: “I’m just glad you’re being treated with the respect you deserve.”

Larry has been living at 10 Downing Street since February 2011, when he became the first cat at the residency to be given the official title of chief mouser.

There are now five political felines on Downing Street. Gladstone, the Treasury’s cat, Palmerston the Foreign Office mouser, and Evie and Ossie, who were adopted by the Cabinet Office in 2016. 

According to the UK government’s website, Larry’s official duties include: “Greeting guests to the house, inspecting security defences and testing antique furniture for napping quality. His day-to-day responsibilities also include contemplating a solution to the mouse occupancy of the house.”

Did this put a smile on your face? Have you spotted Larry the cat before?