Political Animals: The secret life of the political pets of Westminster and Washington

by Peter Cardwell

Larry the cat, chief mouser of Downing Street, has seen off five Prime Ministers so far and is a national treasure. Though certainly the most famous cat in Britain, Larry is only one of a long line of political animals at the seats of government on both sides of the Atlantic.

From pandas and platypuses to Labradors and lions, animals have long shored up peace between rivals, clinched election campaigns, caused divisions within parties and left their unique calling cards in the halls of power.

Journalist and former special adviser Peter Cardwell traces the political (and not-so-political) adventures of these fascinating pets from Tudor times to No. 10's newest kitten. Drawing on exclusive interviews with Washington and Westminster insiders, including Prime Ministers past and present, Cardwell reveals never-before-heard tales of political pets and offers a fresh insight into the enduring relationships between those in government and their furry friends.

This updated paperback edition explores Larry's life under the eventful premierships of Theresa May and Liz Truss and takes a closer look at the life of Palmerston, the former Foreign Office cat, who passed in February 2026.

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2016

Reviews

[Ashton Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was an amazing read with great insights into the behind the scenes life of political animals which is of great interest to me as a young wannabee political commentator with an interest in the inner workings of government! Peter is a great, funny and interesting author.

[Peter Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book with some wonderful insights and laughs. Highly recommended