Willow (cat)

Willow Biden (born January 3, 2020) is an American 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 Jill 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]

Willow
Willow in 2022
SpeciesDomestic cat
BreedDomestic short-haired cat
SexFemale
Born (2020-01-03) January 3, 2020[1]
Western Pennsylvania
Years active2022–present
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

Biography

Willow is a former farm cat that was born in Western Pennsylvania, and was formerly owned by Rick Telesz, a farmer in Volant, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania.[2][3][4] She has green eyes.[5] Biden has stated that “[Willow] has no limits” and that “in the middle of the night she climbs up and lays on top of [his] head”.[6]

Adoption
Willow overlooking Christmas decorations in the White House Cross Hall, Dec. 22, 2022
Willow explores the White House.

Jill Biden first met Willow during a campaign speech at the farm where she resided and 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, and that she had grown attached to the cat.[7] 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][8]

Willow's adoption was part of a campaign promise to adopt a cat into the First Family,[9] and after being so, was named Willow Biden, after Jill's hometown of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.[1][4][10]

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Superville, Darlene (January 28, 2022), "Here, kitty: Bidens welcome cat named Willow to White House", Associated Press, retrieved December 22, 2022
  6. Haroun, Azmi (January 26, 2023). "Biden confirms that White House cat Willow has 'no limits' and sleeps on top of his head at night". Business Insider. Archived from the original on June 30, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  7. 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.
  8. "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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
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