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When will the Bidens bring a cat? From Bush's India to Clinton's Socks, here's a history of presidential felines

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki predicted that the president's first cat would 'dominate the internet'

As US President Joe Biden's dogs Major and Champ (Major is set to be the first shelter dog to live at the White House) move into the presidential residence, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki predicted that the president's first cat would "dominate the internet" when it is publicly revealed for the first time.

It was first reported in November 2020 that the Bidens were planning to add a cat to their family of pets when they move to the White House. It is not yet clear whether the president and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden have decided to purchase or adopt the cat. However, based on Psaki's statements, it looks like the Bidens will still go ahead with the plan.

In a recent video posted by Psaki on Twitter, where she answered questions from the public, a light moment came when one question came up about updates about the "First Feline," to which Psaki said, "The cat is going to dominate the internet whenever the cat is announced and wherever that cat is found."

If the Bidens do go ahead with bringing a cat to the White House, it will no doubt become one of the most famous cats of the 21st century along with Grumpy Cat, White Coffee Cat, and other Instagram-famous feline pets. However, the awaited cat will not be the first feline to step foot in the White House. The last president to have a cat in the White House was President George W Bush, whose cat, named India was adopted in 1991 when his daughters, Jenna and Barbara, were nine years old. The ink-black cat was named after a star player, Rubén Sierra, who had the nickname “El Indio."

Before Bush, President Bill Clinton's cat, Socks, was popular in the media and made many media appearances, including a cartoon book, a song, a TV comedy, a video game, and more. Socks was a black-and-white stray cat who reportedly jumped into the arms of Chelsea Clinton when she was leaving her teacher's home in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1991.

Socks was the first cat to live in the White House since Misty Malarkey Ying Yang, who was the cat of President Jimmy Carter's daughter, Amy Carter, and First Lady Rosalynn Carter. The Siamese cat was reported to be devoted to Amy, sitting by her during her violin sessions and always seen sitting on Amy's lap. The cat to occupy the White House before Misty Malarkey Ying Yang was Shan who belonged to Carter's predecessor President Gerald Ford which was brought to the White House by Ford's daughter, Susan Ford. Reportedly, Shan preferred women over men, but made an exception for the president, often rubbing his legs and waiting for an opportunity to get into his lap.

In fact, presidents having cats at the White House was more common in the past, including President John F Kennedy, who had Tom Kitten, also called Tom Terrific, who made the President sneeze but was endeared by his daughter Caroline. Abraham Lincoln was an avid cat lover, having two cats officially in the White House called Tabby and Dixie, but also the many strays he would bring to the residence.

Rutherford Hayes was the first president to bring a Siamese cat, named Siam, to the White House. Theodore Roosevelt had a cat called Tom Quartz, named after a character in a Mark Twain novel. Woodrow Wilson had two cats named Mittens and Puffins. Calvin Coolidge had many cats during his time as the President. Ronald Reagan had two cats named Cleo and Sara who did not appear to have moved to the White House with the family.