Species | Domestic cat |
---|---|
Breed | Domestic short-haired cat |
Sex | Female |
Born | [1] Western Pennsylvania, U.S. | January 3, 2020
Occupation | United States presidential pet |
Years active | 2021–present |
Term | January 28, 2022 – present |
Owner | Biden family |
Residence | White House |
Appearance | Tabby cat with light green eyes, striped light and dark grey fur |
Named after | Willow Grove, Pennsylvania |
Willow (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 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]
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]
Willow was adopted in February 2021, but only came to live in the White House in 2022 because of concerns that she would not get along with the Biden family's German Shepherd Major. [11] The dog reportedly had biting issues and was sent to live with friends of the Biden family in Delaware. [1]
First Lady of the United States (FLOTUS) is a title typically held by the wife of the president of the United States, concurrent with the president's term in office. Although the first lady's role has never been codified or officially defined, she figures prominently in the political and social life of the United States. The first lady of the United States is the hostess of the White House.
Willow Grove is a census-designated place (CDP) in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. A community in Philadelphia's northern suburbs, the population was 13,730 at the 2020 census. It is located in Abington Township and Upper Moreland Township. Willow Grove was once known for Willow Grove Park, an amusement park that was open from 1896 to 1976, now the site of Willow Grove Park Mall. Willow Grove is considered an edge city of Philadelphia, with large amounts of retail and office space. It was a stop on the network for fugitive enslaved people, known as the Underground Railroad, in the mid 19th century.
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