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Meet Willow, the Bidens' new, very presidential-looking cat

Willow, photographed in the White House on Wednesday, is the Biden family's new cat.
Erin Scott
/
White House
Willow, photographed in the White House on Wednesday, is the Biden family's new cat.

The Biden administration announced Friday that the first family has adopted a gray shorthair tabby cat named Willow.

First lady Jill Biden was apparently the driver behind the adoption after Willow interrupted a speech she was giving at a Pennsylvania farm during President Biden's 2020 campaign.

"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. Seeing their immediate bond, the owner of the farm knew that Willow belonged with Dr. Biden," Michael LaRosa, the first lady's spokesman, said in a news release.

The cat is named after the first lady's hometown of Willow Grove, Pa. The cat will be the first to live in the White House since President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush's black cat, India.

Last month, the Bidens welcomed Commander, a 4-month-old purebred German shepherd puppy. In June, the Bidens' eldest dog, Champ, died. Meanwhile, Major, whom they adopted from an animal shelter in 2018, was rehomed after struggling to adapt to the busy White House environment.

By the looks of it, Willow is having no such issues adjusting.

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Willow, shown in the White House on Wednesday, is named after the first lady's hometown of Willow Grove, Pa.
Erin Scott / White House
/
White House/Erin Scott
Willow, shown in the White House on Wednesday, is named after the first lady's hometown of Willow Grove, Pa.
Willow gets comfortable in the White House on Wednesday.
Erin Scott / White House
/
White House/Erin Scott
Willow gets comfortable in the White House on Wednesday.

Harrison Jacobs

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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