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Cat in the house —
She's a 2-year-old gray shorthair with a beautiful tabby coat, named Willow. (Fun cat fact: tabby is a coat pattern, not a breed.) In 2020, when she was then a simple farm cat, the First Feline strolled her way onto a stage during a campaign stop, straight into Dr. Jill Biden's heart. The White House last week officially introduced Willow to the world.
Cats have been rarer in the White House than dogs, but they've also graced the place in the past: Willow shares a history, now with India, President George W. Bush's cat; Socks, the tuxedo who belonged to the Clinton family, and others, such as Shan the Siamese, who was the Fords' cat.
You may not know the biggest cat daddy of them all was none other than Honest Abe. William Seward gave him two kittens, Tabby and Dixie, who were thoroughly spoiled. President Lincoln once fed Tabby right at the table during a state dinner, and although Mrs. Lincoln was mortified, she is also recorded as giving a single-word answer when asked if her husband had any hobbies. She replied: "Cats."
Another certified cat man from history? Mark Twain, who kept several, including the delightfully named Blatherskite.
Some famous cat quotes from Twain: "Of all God's creatures there is only one that cannot be made the slave of the lash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve the man, but it would deteriorate the cat."
And: "When a man loves cats, I am his friend and comrade, without further introduction."
— Katharhynn from the newsroom, with some of the "mews" that's fit to print.
(Willow the White House cat/White House photo)
In far more serious national (and international) news, the situation in Ukraine is heating up. As reported by NBC, Russia is accusing the United States of trying to start a war, while Russia denies plans to invade Ukraine.
However, the White House says it is Russia who is acting aggressively by posting troops on Ukraine's border — an estimated 130,000.
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