UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and family are now established in Number 10, along with JoJo, the family cat. Larry and JoJo have been circling each other since July when the Starmers moved in. So far there have been no spats, at least not in public, partly because they went to the same school (Floreat Battersea!) but mainly because JoJo, despite ruling the domestic roost, according to his butler Starmer, is a civilian. It would be unprofessional., and cause mountains of paperwork, if Larry (MI6 and civil servant) were to tear JoJo’s ear off. 

And Larry is a National Treasure. His has been the only steady presence as the nation burned through five Prime Ministers in 14 years. But Larry is now 17. His Licence to Mouse should have been revoked some time ago. He cannot remain First Cat for ever.

The Starmers have brought in a new kitten. He is a Siberian. Handsome, muscular, smart, loyal–you can see why Larry might worry. As might JoJo. And of course, he could be a Russian asset hiding in plain sight.

Siberians grow into impressive units, looking even bigger than they are because of their three-layer coats and bushy tails. They all look as if they could single-pawedly haul a sled over the steppes in midwinter, and then write an introspective poetical novella about the futility of the journey. There is every chance the kitten will be adorable. So it will be interesting to see how Larry handles it. Will old age and treachery defeat youth and skill? Or will old and new form a comradely bond?

So far, there have been no photographs, and the kitten remains unnamed. That’s not entirely true, all cats have their own name, as T.S. Eliot has made clear. I mean that the kitten has no professional nom de chat, the name cats allow humans to call them. 

The Starmers may need a steer on this, so I am going to suggest that they look at famous Siberians for some inspo.

Dmitri, for Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev (1834-1907) born near Tobolsk. Genius chemist and deviser of the modern Periodic Table. In case you have momentarily forgotten what this is, here is Tom Lehrer’s musical version, The Elements, to remind you.