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, First Cat of the United States |
| Years active | 2021–2025 |
| Term | January 28, 2022 – January 20, 2025 |
| Predecessor | India |
| Owner | Biden family |
| Appearance | Tabby cat with light green eyes, striped light and dark grey fur |
| Named after | Willow Grove, Pennsylvania |
Willow, born on January 3, 2020, is a special cat. She is a tabby domestic short-haired cat who belonged to former President Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden. Willow used to be a farm cat before the Biden family adopted her. She was named after Jill Biden's hometown, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.
Willow was 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.
Contents
Willow's Story
Willow is a beautiful cat with bright green eyes. She was born on a farm in Western Pennsylvania. Her first owner was a farmer named Rick Telesz. Joe Biden once shared that Willow is very playful. He said she would even climb onto his head in the middle of the night!
How Willow Met the Bidens
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. This was before the Bidens officially adopted her. Rick Telesz, Willow's former owner, received a call. He was told that Jill Biden wanted to adopt Willow.
Joining the First Family
Adopting a cat was something Joe Biden had talked about during his 2020 presidential campaign. So, Willow's adoption helped fulfill that promise. She was officially named Willow Biden. This honored Jill Biden's hometown of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.
Willow was adopted in February 2021. However, she did not move into the White House until 2022. There were some worries about how she would get along with the Biden family's dog, a German Shepherd named Major. For a time, Willow lived with Jill Biden's press secretary, Michael LaRosa. Her arrival at the White House was announced in January 2022. Major, the dog, later went to live with friends of the Biden family in Delaware.
In 2024, Jill Biden wrote a picture book about Willow.
More About Presidential Pets
- United States presidential pets
- List of individual cats
- Larry
