Downing St puss staying put at No 10

Larry the cat, the Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, the title of the official resident cat of the British Prime Minister, sits on the steps of 10 Downing Street. Photo / AP

The Downing Street cat will be spared eviction from Number 10 when the Cameron family leave, it has been confirmed.

Chief mouser Larry - a brown and white tabby entrusted with the rat-catching portfolio - will continue to reside in his famous abode when Theresa May moves in after becoming British Prime Minister on Thursday NZT.

A Cabinet Office spokeswoman said: "It's a civil servant's cat and does not belong to the Camerons - he will be staying".

Larry, who was re-homed from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in 2011, was said to have a "strong predatory drive" that suggested he would be well-suited to the task of rat catching.

David Cameron welcomed the cat's arrival, and said he would make a "great addition" to the Number 10 team.

Larry was the first cat to hold the appointment since stalwart ratter Humphrey was retired in 1997.

Humphrey was succeeded for a short period by Sybil, the pet of then Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling, in 2007 - but the renowned mouser failed to settle and returned to Scotland.

The Foreign Office appointed Palmerston, a moggy, in April to keep pests in Whitehall at bay.

An unofficial Twitter account set up under Larry's name posted today: "Does anyone know a good cat groomer available tomorrow? I need to make a good impression on someone ..."

It had earlier tweeted: "One final thing before they'll let you have the job @TheresaMay2016 - tell the people you'll keep me in Number 10."

- PA, AAP