Steve Back / Rex Features

British Prime Minister David Cameron's cat Larry and Chancellor George Osborne's cat Freya fight in Downing Street, London, on Tuesday.

LONDON - Downing Street, where the head of Britain's government resides right next door to the man who holds the nations' purse strings, has witnessed its fair share of spats over the years.

But the fur flew for real Tuesday when two cats from each official residence -- known colloquially as Number 10 and Number 11 -- traded paws in a brief bout of feline fury.

Larry, Prime Minister David Cameron's cat, was pictured taking a claw to the throat from Freya, Chancellor George Osborne's pet.

Witnesses said Larry quickly withdrew to the safety of his home, leaving Freya one-up in the cat-on-cat contest.

Read the story by NBC News' British partner ITV News

This is not the first time that Larry has let down the side since joining Downing Street from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, an animal shelter in southwest London, almost two years ago.  He was brought in on the reputed strength of his mousing skills to deal with at least one rat seen scurrying past the door of Number 10. (Click here to see Number 10's official version on Storify).

But his career got off to a rocky start, drawing blood from a TV reporter.

Click here for more stories about Larry the cat  

To compound this first PR faux pas, it took Larry months to nail his first rodent victim, the Guardian reported.

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Carl Court / AFP - Getty Images

A police officer encourages 'Larry', the Downing Street cat, into 10 Downing Street before a photocall involving British Prime Minister David Cameron and BMW Chairman Norbert Reithofer in central London, UK, on June 9.

As regular readers will know, Larry is no stranger to PhotoBlog. Take a look back at his previous escapades:

Royal feline fever! Larry gets in the royal wedding spirit

British Prime Minister hires a professional cat

James Glossop / WPA Pool via Getty Images

Larry, the Downing Street cat, in a Union flag bow-tie in the Cabinet Room at number 10 Downing Street on Thursday, April 28, in London. Prince William will marry his fiancee Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey tomorrow.

James Glossop / WPA Pool via Getty Images

Larry, the Downing Street cat, in the Cabinet Room at number 10 Downing Street on Thursday.

James Glossop / WPA Pool via Getty Images

Larry, the Downing Street cat, in the Royal Wedding spirit in the Cabinet Room at number 10 Downing Street on Thursday.

 More royal wedding coverage on our blog, The Windsor Knot. More royal photos in PhotoBlog.

And more photo coverage in our slideshows:
Life of Kate Middleton
Life of Prince William
Preparations for the royal wedding.
Wacky royal wedding memorabilia.
The royal guest list - who's coming to the wedding?
A royal courtship.
History of British royal weddings.
Crown jewels.