The cats in the White House

When it comes to the White House, there’s one thing about which everyone can agree: Cats have been among its best residents.

Here are some of history’s most famous presidential felines.

President Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865)

Lincoln was the first president to bring felines into the White House. His cats Tabby and Dixie were gifts from Secretary of State William Seward.

Lincoln was quite the cat person, even rescuing three motherless kittens while visiting General Grant during the Civil War.

RELATED: President Lincoln loved stray cats

He regularly played with kitties to relieve stress during his presidency—a favorite de-stressing technique of cat lovers, even today.

President Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881)

Like Lincoln, Hayes was a fan of felines. In fact, the first Siamese cat to arrive in the United States was his cat, Siam.

Siam was a gift from David B. Sickels, an American diplomat in Bangkok, to First Lady Lucy Hayes. The Hayes’ also had a kitty named Piccolomini.

President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909)

Teddy Roosevelt had an impressive collection of White House pets, including a six-toed cat named Slippers, and Tom Quartz, named for a fictional feline in Mark Twain’s Roughing It.

Apparently, regal Slippers could be found all over the White House, and would snooze in the hallway outside the banquet hall, where visiting dignitaries had to step around her to enter.

RELATED: Willow Biden, the new ‘First Cat’ of the White House

President Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929)

The Coolidges owned a menagerie of pets. Their feline residents included Tiger, Blacky, Bounder, Timmie and even a bobcat named Smoky. Blacky regularly enjoyed cream in a saucer and liked to hang out in the White House elevator.

One day, Tiger became lost outdoors, and a radio announcement—a new technology at the time—helped to locate him. Timmie liked to hang out with a family canary perched between his shoulders.

John F. Kennedy (1961-1963)

Tom Kitten, the Kennedy’s cat, was first introduced to the media in 1961. The cat actually belonged to Kennedy’s daughter, Caroline, and because of the president’s allergies to it, the cat spent most of its time living with White House staffer Mary Gallagher, though Caroline was able to visit and play with her furry friend when she pleased.

President Gerald Ford (1974-1977)

Gerald Ford’s daughter Susan brought along Shan Shein, a lovely Siamese cat, to the White House.

Although the kitty didn’t quite see eye-to-eye with Liberty, the family’s golden retriever, she loved to hang out in the Lincoln bedroom, usually under the bed.

President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981)

Jimmy Carter’s daughter Amy also brought a sweet Siamese cat into the White House. The feline’s full name was Misty Malarky Ying Yang—a mouthful that even inspired a song by Gabor Szabo.

Misty liked to hang out in Amy’s dollhouse and frequently meowed along with the first daughter’s violin practice sessions.

Ronald Reagan (1981-1989)

Reagan and his wife Nancy had two cats, Cleo and Sara, who lived on their ranch in Santa Barbara, CA.

Though they don’t seem to have ever made the move to the big house on Pennsylvania Ave., they are presidential felines nonetheless.

President Bill Clinton (1993-2001)

Bill Clinton came to the White House with Socks, one of the most well-known and beloved first kitties. He was so famous that he had a book and song written about him. Later, he even had a website.

RELATED: Socks Clinton, the most famous presidential cat of all time!

Socks didn’t get along with presidential canine Buddy, though, and eventually went to live with Betty Currie, the president’s secretary.

President George W. Bush (2001-2009)

George W. Bush brought his adorable family cat India “Willie” Bush to the White House.

This ebony beauty liked to spend her days in the presidential library and, like Socks, had her own website.

RELATED: India ‘Willie’ Bush dies at 18

She would also sometimes appear on the “Barneycam” videos taken of presidential pooch Barney.

You could also like...

Creme Puff, the oldest cat in history! 15 Things You Should Know Before Dating a Cat Lady The unconditional love of therapy cats Do you have a first aid kit for your cat? Top 10 Signs That Show Your Cat Is Happy