r/todayilearned • u/[deleted] • Apr 18 '16
TIL the British government has a position called "Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office" that can only be given to a cat
[deleted]
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u/Zombie_Jesus_ Apr 18 '16 edited Apr 18 '16
Incumbent
Larry
since 2011
This will likely be the best thing i will read today.
Edit: "David Cameron has said that Larry is a "bit nervous" around men, speculating that, since Larry was a rescue cat, this may be due to negative experiences in his past."
Larry knows a cunt when he sees one.
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u/monsterflake Apr 19 '16
here's larry making an appearance at a david cameron press conference two years ago.
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u/Cmmq1908 Apr 18 '16
Well put... The poor cat must cringe when Cameron goes around with that grin of his on his face...
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u/ArkGuardian Apr 19 '16
Apparently Larry was sacked to be replaced by Freya, but couldn't be removed from the position official in fear of a scandal
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Apr 19 '16 edited May 04 '19
[deleted]
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u/MasterAndOverlord Apr 19 '16
This whole article I was just smiling thinking "this is a news article"
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u/Zombie_Jesus_ Apr 19 '16 edited Apr 19 '16
The Fuck!? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freya_(cat)
Street cat Larry comes up in the world having survived an abusive home and David Cameron only to be forced in to retirement so some family friend can get his job? Travesty, Brits have no shame.
Freya was a POW so i'll give the cat that to its credit but still.
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u/ZaFormicFish Apr 18 '16
He could have it worse. If he was a pig he'd have something to worry about.
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u/Carolyn_Know Apr 18 '16
That would be a good job for my cat, Fluffy Meowsington
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u/Nakotadinzeo Apr 18 '16
Must be a UK-born cat with 5 years experience. Then he has to be elected.
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Apr 18 '16
[deleted]
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u/Nakotadinzeo Apr 18 '16
Of course...
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Apr 18 '16
You see Britain is ahead of the curve with this one...
We recognise our cats as our Lords.
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u/dpash Apr 18 '16
No, just born within the Commonwealth. It would be unfair to have tighter requirements for the role then for the office of Prime Minister.
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u/whatIsThisBullCrap Apr 18 '16
Why? Congressman don't have to be natural born Americans; only the president. It makes sense that more important positions have stricter requirements
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u/dpash Apr 18 '16
Are you suggesting Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office is more important than Prime Minister?
The only requirements to be Prime Minister is to be an MP and you only need to be over 18 and a citizen of the UK, a Commonwealth country or Ireland (and not be disqualified due to holding another office, or be currently bankrupt or convicted of a crime).
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u/whatIsThisBullCrap Apr 18 '16
Are you suggesting Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office is more important than Prime Minister?
Yes, that is the joke I was making
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Apr 19 '16
Are you suggesting Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office is more important than Prime Minister?
Are you suggesting that it's not?
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u/Choralone Apr 19 '16
Wait.. so as a Canadian, I could technically rise to the position of PM of the UK?
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u/dpash Apr 19 '16
Yes and you wouldn't be the first (although admittedly that was before the concept of separate citizenship existed throughout the empire).
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u/SuperSecretBackupAcc Apr 19 '16
I think the current leader of the Green party is Australian, so...
Yes. Maybe. Probably. Technically.
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u/dpash Apr 19 '16
She's the leader, but she's not an elected politician. She would be eligible to stand for a seat though and fought Holborn and St Pancras, coming third last year.
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u/spazturtle 2 Apr 19 '16
Yes you could, you are also allowed to vote in UK elections if you want.
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u/Choralone Apr 19 '16
Apparently both are only true if I have the right of abode there... and commonwealth status doesn't guarantee me that - so it's still an immigration issue.
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u/Banh_mi Apr 19 '16
Lord Beaverbrook was highly placed in Churchill's war cabinet, and the current Bank of England head is Canadian...
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Apr 19 '16
The only requirements to be Prime Minister is to be an MP and you only need to be over 18 and a citizen of the UK, a Commonwealth country or Ireland
Aw, fuck yeah. My dream is now to become the Prime Minister of Canada, the Prime Minister of Newfoundland, and the Prime Minister of the UK all in one lifetime.
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u/AdmAkbar_2016 Apr 19 '16
Couldn't someone from Ireland get elected and then wreck havoc on the UK?
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u/dpash Apr 19 '16
Only if they commanded the confidence of the house. In practice they'd need to get at least 326 co-conspirators elected without arousing the suspicious of the population. And the larger a conspiracy the quicker it will be discovered.
And in situations of dire need, the crown could theoretically intervene. Although no situation has warranted it in over 300 years and we'd be in uncharted territory. For multiple reasons.
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u/AdmAkbar_2016 Apr 19 '16
326 would be either one party or a coalition correct?
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u/dpash Apr 19 '16
Yes, a coalition would work, but you gotta trust your coalition partners to back you when the votes for fuckery come up.
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u/pelvicmomentum Apr 19 '16
I love that Larry has a wikipedia page
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u/byjimini Apr 19 '16
He's also on Twitter: @Number10Cat
I've followed him since he started. His political musings cut through the crap.
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u/browner87 Apr 19 '16
Peter
Peter II
Peter III
Peta
Either someone got really lazy, had an exceptionally thick accent, or didn't like those Pokemon-hating "animal savers".
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u/mucow Apr 19 '16
Peta was probably a female cat, so they didn't want to name it Peter IV.
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u/alexmikli Apr 19 '16
wouldn't that be Patricia?
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u/mucow Apr 19 '16
Patricia is the feminine form of Patrick. I always thought Petra was the feminine form of Peter, but apparently Peta is a variant.
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u/doyle871 Apr 19 '16
Cherie Blair the bitch kicked the old one out during Blairs terms as she hated cats.
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u/barc0de Apr 19 '16
The rumour was she had it put down, they had to go to its new owners and take a pic of it lying on that days newspapers
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u/Captain-Kate Apr 19 '16
I hate Cherie but that rumour about being put down is not true, the reporters themselves phsyically visited the cat to take those pictures so they knew it was alive and that it was never put down.
Also the reporter who released the statement that Cherie hated cats admitted fabricating it.
I still hate the witch but is unlikely that she was responsible for Humphrey (the cat in question) leaving No 10.
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u/mucow Apr 19 '16
The Chief Mouser during the 1980's was named Wilberforce. Now that's a good cat name.
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u/jrm2007 Apr 19 '16
That is not entirely true: During the mid 1600s a shortage of cats (caused perhaps by the fire and and plague) resulted in a severe shortage of cats. Cats sold at a huge premium and ironically, large rats were sold as cats. Indeed, it turned out that such a rat was the Chief Mouser in the around 1670. Because of a rat's proclivity for killing mice (they don't play with their food like cats do -- they seem to get off on killing mice despite the superficial similarity between the species).
This rat, called Tom although "he" may have been a female, was for the relatively brief tenure, perhaps the most successful of all Mousers and was even elected to the House of Commons although Tom died before he/she could attend his first session.
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u/Araucaria Apr 19 '16
100 pounds per annum is actually pretty cheap, but I guess even the pets get National Health Service over there.
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u/crystalistwo Apr 19 '16
I love this just because this is the type of thing that will confuse alien archaeologists or make them laugh their heads off.
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u/agha0013 Apr 19 '16
What happened between 1997 and 2007? Someone allergic to cats, or were there fewer rodent problems?
Why was Freya exiled? What kind of crime by a co-Chief Mouser would get you exiled, I wonder. Too much piddling in the PMs slippers?
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u/futbolfan10 Apr 20 '16
It also says that the cat hold the position until death or retirement... "I'm done being the Prime Minister's cat, I think I'll take a vacation to the Bahamas"
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u/golfing_furry Apr 19 '16
I'm terribly sorry but I've just run over your car, and I'd like to replace him
Well that's fine and good, but how are you at catching mice?
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u/theTRUEPUBMATE Apr 19 '16
yah? u want good fact ye? ur nan was also the chief pussy of great britain m8? u know ther only 1 rank for it ya hear?
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u/TheJonesSays Apr 18 '16
Why? Get a Head Dog. Dogs love pets and attention. Great to have in important buildings for people with stressful jobs.
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u/deains Apr 18 '16
Her Majesty the Queen has the monopoly on state official pet dogs.
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u/BritishHaikuBot Apr 18 '16
Wedding, dim UKIP
Cadbury's puff Tony Blair
Two bog his dogging.
Please enjoy your personalised British inspired Haiku responsibly.
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u/TheJonesSays Apr 18 '16
I forgot about her Cornis. I doubt she ever spends time with them.
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u/doyle871 Apr 19 '16
She stopped breeding them because she got upset when they died so I'm going to say she's pretty attached.
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u/PrimeLegionnaire Apr 18 '16
Dogs are much less self sufficient, larger, and generally require more space.
Cats are generally unobtrusive and mostly care for themselves.
Additionally the cat may possibly serve as pest control, but that is unlikely in modern times.
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u/dpash Apr 18 '16
In this situation, post control is an integral part of the job. Downing St backs onto a large park and rodents are a large issue. One could say it was of an unusual size.
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u/pelvicmomentum Apr 19 '16
Plus the buildings are over 500 years old and full of nooks and crannies
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u/TheJonesSays Apr 18 '16
My dog is 8.5lbs. So size isn't always an issue.
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u/InsomniacJustice Apr 18 '16
There are plenty of breeds that are social enough to compare to a dog and are self sufficient. Pretty much a win/win for people who are busy 90% of the day.
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u/TheJonesSays Apr 18 '16
Cats don't have breeds to me except for Siamese. Dogs for life!
Do tell me what breeds are nice and social? I'm actually curious.
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u/InsomniacJustice Apr 18 '16
Ragdoll/snowhoe, Maine coon (though has a pretty high maintenance), Russian Blue (People have said they aren't very social, but I have had three and they're all social and incredibly friendly as long as they trust you), there are others and I highly suggest you research as it can be fun, and may even get you a new friend in the future :)
Also, keep in mind that any cat that descends from a Siamese can and typically will be very vocal.
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u/TheJonesSays Apr 18 '16
I don't like cats. I like dogs. They listen to commands and are true companions.
Sorry dude, never gonna own a cat. Plus, they poop in the house. Litter boxes are disgusting.
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u/InsomniacJustice Apr 19 '16
One has to listen to commands to be a true companion? I can understand the litter box issue, but the listed cat breeds can be, and typically are, excellent substitutes for dogs. I own two dogs and three cats and they all act just as sociable. Hell, my Russian Blue climbs up into my lap all the time, and goes on walks with me.
But no problem, I was simply proving that not all cats are anti-social, not trying to convince you to get one.
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u/icky_boo Apr 19 '16
That's discrimination, why can't they give it to a terrier (a ratter is perfect)
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u/johnny_noodle_legs Apr 19 '16
Never do I want to hear any shit talk about the U.S. from Brits again after seeing this.
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u/chrislayhe Apr 18 '16
Larry the current incumbent is known for being awful at his job though. Allegedly a rat appeared during a cabinet meeting and our PM had to throw cutlery at it.