The cats again have a representative in the White House. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill have added Willow, a two-year-old Pennsylvania cat, to their pet family.
“Willow is settling into the White House with her favorite toys, treats and plenty of room to sniff and explore,” said Michael LaRosa, a spokesman for Jill.
The kitty was named after the first lady’s hometown of Willow Grove, which is in Pennsylvania. It was in this state that the two met, in 2020, when the short-haired gray cat jumped on stage and interrupted Jill’s speech at a campaign event, LaRosa explained.
“By seeing their immediate connection, the farm owner knew Willow belonged to Dr. Biden,” the spokesperson added.
The arrival of a feline at the US president’s residence had been expected since Biden’s election, when Jill announced that she would bring a cat. Willow arrives to keep German Shepherd Commander company, a puppy who joined the family in December.
The Bidens had taken two German Shepherds with them when they moved, Major and Champ. The former, however, began to demonstrate aggressive behavior and returned to the family home in Delaware. The second died in June last year.
With Willow, a pussy returns to roam the corridors of the White House, something that has not happened since George W. Bush left the presidency in 2009. India the cat arrived in the family in 1991 and moved after the Republican election in 2001.
The feline died at age 18, on January 4, 2009, just weeks before the arrival of President Barack Obama.
