WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — While the halls of the White House have been walked by our nation's leaders and their families, there's also a long history of four-legged companions tagging along.
President Joe Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden welcomed their German Shepherds Major and Champ back to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in 2021.
While there have been hiccups along the way, it appears things settled enough for the Biden's to welcome another German Shepherd pup named Commander this past December.
Now, the Biden's are adding yet another furry addition to their family with the arrival of 2-year-old tabby cat Willow.
The green-eyed, gray and white cat is getting settled at the White House with treats, toys and room to sniff around. The Associated Press reports the first lady named the cat after her hometown of Willow Grove.
The new cat joins the ranks of President Bill Clinton's cat Socks and President Ronald Reagan's cats Cleo and Sara.
But it turns out, the pets that have been kept at the White House get a little more wild than just cats and dogs – literally.
Over the years, presidents have been noted for having alligators, ponies, raccoons and bears for pets, and that just skims the surface.
Here's a look at some of the more uncommon pets that have called the White House home:
President Calvin Coolidge
Rebecca the raccoon was said to have been given to the Coolidge family in 1926 by a supporter from Mississippi. The animal was suggested to be served up for dinner but was spared when the family fell in love with her, according to the White House Historical Association.
According to the National Parks Service, the Coolidge family also received lion cubs, antelope, bears and a pygmy hippo from foreign diplomats.
President John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams actually kept a pet at the White House that is all too familiar in Florida – an alligator. He reportedly received it as a gift in 1826 from the Marquis de Lafayette.
The president's wife, Louisa Catherine Adams, also kept a massive amount of silkworms at the White House, according to the Massachusetts Historical Society. In a diary entry, the then-president detailed one night how she was winding silk from several hundred of the insects after they dined with a guest.
President Theodore Roosevelt
The 26th president of the United States had a rather large collection of pets during his time in the White House, according to the National Parks Service.
His family had parrots, guinea pigs, rabbits and most notably a badger named Josiah "whose temper was short but whose nature was fundamentally friendly."
Also among the Roosevelt family's odd animals were a one-legged rooster, hyena, bear and lizard.
President Andrew Jackson
His most interesting pets, according to historical notations, came from well-known explorers Lewis and Clark. The duo is said to have given the president a pair of grizzly cubs and a parrot.
The Presidential Pet Museum says Jackson also had a foul-mouthed parrot that infamously cursed at the president's funeral.
President John F. Kennedy
A total of 23 pets lived with the Kennedys at the White House, according to the JFK Library. And while a majority were dogs, there was not a lack of other domestic animals roaming the grounds.
A pony named Macaroni, a rabbit named Zsa Zsa and a canary named Robin were among the packed crew living with the family during JFK's presidency.
President James Buchanan
While they weren't kept at the White House, Buchanan was sent two bald eagles from the Sierra Nevada region, according to Lancaster History's website. The majestic birds were instead kept in his backyard in Wheatland where they walked "in stately dignity."
President William Taft
A beloved cow called Pauline Wayne took the spotlight under Taft's presidency. The old girl was used as a dairy source but was said to have been adored beyond her role. The White House Historical Association adds she was kept in the same stables as the presidential carriage horses.
President Martin Van Buren
A pair of tiger cubs called the White House home after they were given to Martin Van Buren by the Sultan of Oman, according to the National Parks Service.
The Smithsonian National Zoo reports the president wanted to keep them, but Congress said that the wild animals belonged to the public.
What other people are reading right now:
- Florida lawmakers pass GOP-backed voting restrictions bill, send to Gov. DeSantis
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Joe Tryon in the first round of the NFL Draft
- Former President Donald Trump says Gov. Ron DeSantis 'would be considered' as his 2024 running mate
- Paraprofessional accused of force-feeding student jelly, stuffing tissues in another's mouth
►Breaking news and weather alerts: Get the free 10 Tampa Bay app
►Stay In the Know! Sign up now for the Brightside Blend Newsletter
