India, center, with Barney and Miss Beazley in happier times.
The Bush family is mourning the death of the first cat, India, the White House announced yesterday. She was 18 years old, or about 88 in cat years.
The American Shorthair black cat’s role as a first pet was often overshadowed by her more famous Scottish terrier siblings Barney and Miss Beazley. But that didn’t seem to bother India, who was also known as Kitty or Willie. According to her bio on the White House website, she preferred spending time in the White House library and aspired to be a presidential historian.Â
The White House said in a statement:
India was a beloved member of the Bush family for almost two decades. She will be greatly missed.
This is the second pet the Bush’s have lost while living in the White House. The family’s Springer spaniel, Spotty, died in 2004.
Photo credit: whitehouse.gov
