If you’re not interested in politics, that may change after learning about the mysterious history of the White House cat. The Bidens have brought a new feline friend to the White House, and everyone wants to know more about just how devious cat politics really are.
I always thought presidents didn’t have time for pets. But apparently the White House is full of cat lovers.
Probably the first White House kittens were unnamed. Their main purpose was to keep rodents out of the food supply, not to roam around like pets. Some may have been kept as pets, but documentation is scarce. Until Abraham Lincoln came along.
Abraham Lincoln loved cats. So much so that Mary Lincoln noticed that he could interact with a cat for at least an hour without interruption. We cat lovers all feel the same way, don’t we?
Lincoln had two pet cats named Dixie and Tabby. Secretary of State William Seward gave him two kittens and I can only imagine Lincoln’s joy.
Siamese cats lying by the window
So many Siamese cats in the White House!
The White House continues to keep lively felines as pets, even though they are retired. Teddy Roosevelt’s cat slippers walk around the kitchen. Herbert Hoover had a cat named Kitty who socialized in the hallways. Even Calvin Coolidge and JFK liked cats.
But not all cats are as sociable as these kittens. Many lived on the second and third floors where the president’s family lived. However, there are a few kittens that have made a lasting impression on our nation’s history.
Siam.
In 1878, a Bangkok diplomat gave Lucy, the wife of Rutherford b. Hayes, a beautiful Siamese cat. Lucy named the cat Siam, and he lived in the White House for about a year until he became ill and died. He was the first Siamese to enter the United States.
Siamese liked to make dramatic appearances when the First Lady entertained guests. Apparently, he also liked to make dramatic exits. His body should have been preserved, but the Department of Agriculture lost his remains despite searching everywhere.
Now, the Hayes Presidential Library sells stuffed animals. Siam would approve.
Shan.
Next up was Cat Shan, the next Siamese sensation in the White House, almost a full century after Siam. Shan belonged to Susan Ford, daughter of President Gerald Ford. He liked to hide under the furniture in Lincoln’s bedroom.
Susan was also very fashionable.In 1974, Wei-Wei Shan was supposed to appear in a portrait of First Lady Betty Ford, but he didn’t want to socialize that day. One of the store assistants tried to retrieve Shan, but Shan bit the assistant’s finger.
The assistant needed surgery for the bite and Shan got a bad reputation. Which do you think is worse?
Siamese cat sitting on the floor
Ying Yang, babbling nonsense
The next cat after Shan was another Siamese cat named Misty Malarky Ying Yang. i felt bad for the vet because he had to write her medical records.
Misty Malarky Ying Yang is the cat of Amy Carter, daughter of President Jimmy Carter. Ying Yang is also known for her dramatic entrance.
However, Misty Malarky Ying Yang decided the party was for her. Instead of being noticed by the President, Misty Malarky walked down the stairs while the marching band was playing and remained in the spotlight the entire time she was down there.
Cat’s Socks
President Bill Clinton’s cat “Socks” is probably the most famous cat in the White House. Everyone loves Socks. He is often seen outside on a leash, stealing photos and catnip from the press.
Sock loved to perch on President Clinton’s shoulder, on the briefing table and behind the Oval Office’s Perseverance Table. He’s even served as the U.S. Ambassador for Children, the first cat to hold the presidency since stepping down from rodent control duties.
Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) noted how quickly kids flocked to presidential pets. It was their first connection to the White House, and the “sock” made it easier for kids to learn about the administration.
The Clintons eventually adopted a dog named Buddy. President Clinton tried to introduce both pets in front of the White House, but that didn’t go too well, as you can see here.