Willow (Joe Biden's cat)

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For the cat who was reunited with her family after being lost for five years, see Willow (calico cat).

Willow
Willow the First Cat.png
Willow in 2022
SpeciesDomestic cat
BreedDomestic short-haired cat
SexFemale
Born2019/2020 (age 2–3)[1]
Western Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania
Known forUnited States presidential pet
TermJanuary 28, 2022 – present
OwnerBiden family
ResidenceWhite House
AppearanceTabby cat with light green eyes, striped light and dark grey fur
Named afterWillow Grove, Pennsylvania

Willow is a tabby domestic short-haired cat owned by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. Formerly a farm cat, she was adopted by the Biden family from Rick Telesz as part of a campaign promise to adopt a cat into the First Family and is named after Dr. Biden's hometown of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. Willow is the first cat to live in the White House since India, who was owned by President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush.[2]

Biography[]

Willow is a former farm cat that was born in Western Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania and was formerly owned by Rick Telesz, a farmer in Volant, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania.[2][3][4]

Adoption[]

Jill Biden first met Willow during a campaign speech at the farm where she resided where she immediately bonded with her.[1][3] In an interview Jill stated that the cat had, between then and her adoption by the Bidens, been living with a foster family, who had grown attached to the cat.[5] Rick Telesz, Willow's former owner, claimed that he received a phone call where he was informed that Jill wanted to adopt Willow from him.[3][6]

Willow's adoption was part of a campaign promise to adopt a cat into the First Family,[7] and after being so, was named Willow Biden, after Jill's hometown of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.[1][4][8]

While the adoption of a cat by the Biden family was promised in late 2020, Willow was only adopted in 2022 because of concerns that she would not get along with the Biden family's German Shepherd Major, who had biting issues. Eventually Major was sent to live with friends of the Biden family in Delaware.[1]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d Rogers, Kate (January 28, 2022). "Relax, America: Willow, the White House Cat, Has Arrived". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 28, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Oladipo, Gloria (January 28, 2022). "Willow the White House cat joins Bidens' pet family". The Guardian. Archived from the original on January 28, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Heyl, Eric (January 31, 2022). "New Biden White House Cat Willow Hails From PA". Patch. Archived from the original on February 6, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Penington, Lauren (January 31, 2022). "Biden's cat, Willow, joins long line of presidential pets". KLKN-TV. Archived from the original on February 6, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  5. ^ Mason, Jeff (January 28, 2022). "Bidens welcome Willow the cat to the White House". Reuters. Archived from the original on January 28, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  6. ^ "Willow, The Biden Family Cat, Is From Western Pennsylvania". CBS Pittsburgh. January 30, 2022. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  7. ^ Jacobs, Harrison (January 28, 2022). "Meet Willow, the Bidens' new, very presidential-looking cat". NPR. Archived from the original on January 29, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  8. ^ Judkis, Maura (January 28, 2022). "The Bidens finally have a White House cat. World, meet Willow". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on January 29, 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2022.

External links[]

Honorary titles
Preceded by Chief Mouser of the United States
January 28, 2022 – present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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