Willow the cat joins the White House menagerie
WASHINGTON — President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden have finally added the long-promised cat to their pet family.
Her name is Willow, and she’s a 2-year-old, green-eyed, gray-and-white farm cat from Pennsylvania. Jill Biden posted photos of the first cat on Twitter on Friday, saying: “Meet Willow!”
“Willow is settling into the White House with her favorite toys, treats and plenty of room to smell and explore,” said Michael LaRosa, the first lady’s spokesperson.
Jill Biden had said after her husband was elected in November 2020 that they would bring a kitty to the White House, but an actual arrival has been delayed. Last month, the White House said the cat would come in January.
The first lady named the new addition after her hometown of Willow Grove, Penn.
The short-haired tabby made quite an impression on Jill Biden after jumping onstage and interrupting her remarks during a 2020 campaign stop in Pennsylvania, LaRosa said.
“Seeing their immediate bond, the owner of the farm knew that Willow belonged with Dr. Biden,” he said.
The White House hasn’t had a feline resident since India, President George W. Bush’s cat. Before that, President Clinton and his family had Socks.
Willow joins Commander, a German shepherd puppy whom the president introduced in December as a birthday gift from his brother James and his wife, Sara.
The Bidens had two other German shepherds, Champ and Major, at the White House before Commander.
But Major, a 3-year-old rescue dog, started behaving aggressively after he arrived in January 2021, including a pair of biting incidents. The White House had said Major was still adjusting to his new home, and he was sent back to the Bidens’ Delaware home for training.
The Bidens, after consulting with dog trainers, animal behaviorists and veterinarians, decided to follow the experts’ collective recommendation and send Major to live in a quieter environment with family friends, LaRosa said last month.
Champ died in June at age 13.
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