Willow (cat) facts for kids
Willow in 2022
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| Species | Domestic cat |
|---|---|
| Breed | Domestic short-haired cat |
| Sex | Female |
| Born | January 3, 2020 Western Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation | Former United States presidential pet |
| Years active | 2021–2025 |
| Term | January 28, 2022 – January 20, 2025 |
| Owner | Biden family |
| Appearance | Tabby cat with light green eyes, striped light and dark grey fur |
| Named after | Willow Grove, Pennsylvania |
Willow (born January 3, 2020) is a special tabby cat. She is a domestic short-haired cat owned by former President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. Willow used to be a farm cat.
The Biden family adopted her as part of a promise they made during a campaign. She is named after Jill Biden's hometown, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. Willow is the first cat to live in the White House since a cat named India. India was owned by President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush.
Willow's Story
Willow was born on a farm in Western Pennsylvania. She has beautiful green eyes. Her first owner was a farmer named Rick Telesz. President Biden has said that Willow is very playful and loves to climb. He even mentioned that she sometimes climbs onto his head at night!
How Willow Joined the First Family
Jill Biden first met Willow during a speech at the farm where Willow lived. They quickly became friends. Jill Biden later said that Willow stayed with a foster family for a while. She grew very fond of the cat during that time.
Willow's former owner, Rick Telesz, got a call saying Jill Biden wanted to adopt Willow. Adopting a cat was something the Biden family had promised to do during the 2020 presidential campaign. After being adopted, the cat was named Willow Biden. This name honors Jill Biden's hometown, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.
Willow was adopted in February 2021. However, she only moved into the White House in 2022. This was because there were worries about how she would get along with the Biden family's German Shepherd dog, Major. Major later went to live with friends of the Biden family in Delaware.
See also
- United States presidential pets
- List of individual cats
