The arrival of the Siberian cat - as yet unnamed in public - was disclosed on Monday by the prime minister, who revealed that his children had been pushing for a dog to join them at Downing Street.
"We are now getting a kitten instead of a dog, and this is an agreement after long negotiations," Starmer told BBC Radio 5 Live.
As a consolation, the Starmer brood may be cheered to know that "Sibbies" are regarded by experts as being more like dogs than other cats. Highly intelligent, they are known to be inquisitive and can be trained, according to Kate Staveley, a breeder and the honorary secretary of the Siberian Cat Club.
"They can be very dog-like in their behaviour. You can put a harness on them. I know of people who go camping with them and a couple who even go up the Cairngorms quite regularly with them," she said.
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