White House Welcomes Official First Cat, Willow!

The purr-fect addition to the White House!

On Friday, a spokesperson for First Lady Dr. Jill Biden confirmed to People that she and President Joe Biden are proud parents to a 2-year-old cat named Willow, named after FLOTUS’ hometown of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.

In a statement, the representative explained that the cute gray and white tabby first met her future mom during a 2020 public appearance.

“A farm cat from Pennsylvania, Willow made quite an impression on Dr. Biden in 2020 when she jumped up on the stage and interrupted her remarks during a campaign stop,” the spokesman said. “Seeing their immediate bond, the owner of the farm knew that Willow belonged with Dr. Biden.”

The Bidens previously had two German shepherds named Champ and Major.

While Major was adopted by the Bidens from the Delaware Humane Association in 2018, “E! News” reported that they adopted Champ after Biden and former President Barack Obama won the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

Sadly, last June, the couple announced that Champ had died at age 13.

Later in December, the president and first lady announced that Major would be rehomed following several “biting incidents.”

“After consulting with dog trainers, animal behaviorists, and veterinarians, the First Family has decided to follow the experts’ collective recommendation that it would be safest for Major to live in a quieter environment with family friends,” a spokesman for the first lady told People at the time.

“This is not in reaction to any new or specific incident, but rather a decision reached after several months of deliberation as a family and discussions with experts.”

Previously, in March of last year, press secretary Jen Psaki confirmed reports that Major “was surprised by an unfamiliar person [at the White House] and reacted in a way that resulted in a minor injury to the individual.”

“Champ and Major, the president and first lady’s dogs… are still getting acclimated and accustomed to their new surroundings and new people,” Psaki told reporters.

In December, the president announced that he and his family welcomed a German shepherd puppy named Commander to their household.

That same month, the first lady’s spokesman said the family would welcome a cat, Willow, in January.