A Nation's Finest Felines: Presidential "First Cats" February 19 2018, 1 Comment
Cats have paced the annals of history alongside humans for thousands of years. And with the recent Internet-borne discovery of cats' plan for world domination and enslavement of the human race, et cetera, it only makes sense that the would seek a place in the halls of power. And what better place than the White House? These cats are prepared to go all the way to the top!
Or, you know, the Presidents just genuinely liked cats. Actually, their daughters liked cats and the rest of the White House (and the free world) just had to get used to the idea. Here's a glimpse into the historied halls of the White House and the cats that stalked them!Â
Â
Tabby Lincoln
A true cat lover, Abraham Lincoln was the first known president to bring felines into the White House. When asked if her husband had a hobby, Mary Todd Lincoln simply replied, âcats.â Lincoln's son had a cat called Tabby, whom Lincoln reportedly liked to feed with a gold fork - at White House dinners. On a wintery visit to a Civil War battlefield in March 1865, Lincoln rescued three half-frozen kittens. Lincoln pet the cats and quietly told them, âKitties, thank God you are cats, and canât understand this terrible strife that is going on.â
Before leaving a meeting in the officersâ tent that day, Lincoln turned to a colonel and said, âI hope you will see that these poor little motherless waifs are given plenty of milk and treated kindly.â
Â
Siam Hayes
Rutherford Hayes received the first Siamese cat in the U.S., named Siam. She was sent to Mrs. Hayes in 1878 as a gift from a U.S. diplomat, David Sickels, in Bangkok, Thailand. Siam was allowed to roam the White House and often made âgrand entrancesâ whenever the First Lady entertained guests.
Â
Â
Slippers Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt had two cats, six-toed Slippers and Tom Quartz. Slippers often fell asleep in hallways. At one state banquet, guests had to walk around her as they made their way to the dining room. Sounds familiar!
Pictured above is Teddy Rooseveltâs youngest son, Quentin Roosevelt, with the six-toed Slippers.
Â
Tom Kitten Kennedy
John F. Kennedyâs feline family member actually belonged to his daughter, Caroline. Tom Kitten, sometimes called âTom Terrificâ was the first Kennedy pet to arrive at the White House, in January 1961. President Kennedy was allergic to cats (and dogs) and had to keep his distance from the friendly little tabby. When he died, Tom Kitten merited his own obituary in a Washington newspaper.
Pictured above, Pamela Turnure, press secretary, introduces the media to Tom Kitten, Jan. 24, 1961.
Â
Misty Malarky Ying Yang Carter
Jimmy Carterâs family owned Misty Malarky Ying Yang, a seal point Siamese cat with a name so unique it was even featured in a song! Gabor Szabo featured an original instrumental composition called âMisty Malarkey Ying-Yangâ on his album Faces. While stalking the White House halls, Misty could often be found curled up in her favorite spot â Amyâs indoor doll house.
Â
Socks Clinton
Bill Clintonâs cat, Socks, oft referred to as âChief Executive Cat," was a domestic shorthair âtuxedoâ cat with stockings on his paws.Â
He appeared in Muppet form on Larry King Live for an interview with Kermit the Frog, who was guest hosting. He was the subject of a cartoon book and a song; he was a character in a cartoon strip; and he even appeared with President Clinton in a series of stamps in the Central African Republic.
For a complete list of Presidential pets from 1789-Present, visit presidentialpetmuseum.com!
Comments
Gary W Garrison on March 24 2020 at 04:00PM
Any information I come across about the President interested me.