First Cat (cat of the president of the United States)
“First cat” is a term sometimes used for a dog of the president of the United States. “COTUS” (Cat Of The United States) has also been used.
“First cat in the land” was printed in The Daily Argus-Leader (Sioux City, IA) on June 16, 1887. “First Cat Misty Marlarkey Ying Yang” was printed in The Christian Science Monitor (Boston, MA) on November 28, 1977. “First Cat Takes Off Amy Carter carries her pet cat Misty Malarkey Yin Yang from the White House to a waiting helicopter to accompany her parents to Camp David for the weekend” was printed in the Atlanta (GA) Journal and Constitution on March 16, 1980. “All the White House needs is a cat. #FirstCat” was posted on Twitter by kris on October 3, 2012.
“First Dog” (dog of the president of the United States) is a similar term.
A list of the pets of the United States presidents is here.
Newspapers.com
16 June 1887, The Daily Argus-Leader (Sioux City, IA), pg. 1, col. 4:
HECTOR PROVES AN ALIBI.
Mrs. Cleveland’s Pet Poodle is not a Rabbit and Chicken Slayer, But a Goo Dog.
WASHINGTON, June 16.—The “first dog in the land,” as Mrs. Cleveland’s black poodle Hector is called, has a friend and ally in the white house in the “first cat in the land,” who is pure white when she doesn’t take advantage of her mistresses’ absence to search for plebeian rats an mice in the coal hole of the executive mansion.
28 November 1977, The Christian Science Monitor (Boston, MA), “First Cat denied rise in mice” by Louise Sweeney, pg. 2, col. 1:
Allegations of an increase in the White House mouse count are totally untrue, according to a statement released by First Cat Misty Marlarkey Ying Yang.
16 March 1980, Atlanta (GA) Journal and Constitution, pg. 11-A, col. 3 photo caption:
First Cat Takes Off
Amy Carter carries her pet cat Misty Malarkey Yin Yang from the White House to a waiting helicopter to accompany her parents to Camp David for the weekend.
30 October 1992, Washington (DC) Post, “Hillary Clinton and the Laws of the Campaign; No Longer a Liability, She’s Making a Quieter Case” by Donnie Radcliffe, pg. B4, col. 4:
Buoyed by the news that there hasn’t been a First Cat since Amy Carter lived at 1600, and that cat lovers of the country would probably feel enfranchised again, she regained her composure as campaign strategist.
Google Groups: rec.pets.cats
Welcome to the First Cat (Socks)
Paul Stevens
Nov 6, 1992, 12:12:58 PM
A 21 can salute to the soon-to-be-resident cat in the White House, Socks! When (if ever) was the last time there was a cat in the White House?
Google Groups: rec.pets.cats
First Cat-elect Socks
Vicki Holzhauer
Nov 25, 1992, 6:16:50 PM
All you cat-lovers out there may want to check out this week’s _Time_ magazine (November 30). There’s a picture of Socks on page 17 (coming toward the camera), with a sidebar about a cat psychologist hoping that Socks does not try to walk 891 miles (23 million kitty steps) back to Little Rock.
Google Groups: rec.humor
A Conservative’s Wakeup Call
Paul Vader
Dec 4, 1992, 12:29:24 AM
(...)
Cut to the hallway. Millie, the Lame dog, is being hotly pursued by the first cat, Socks. Socks has a huge chunk of one of Millie’s ears hanging out of her mouth. Both of them crash into Dan Quayle’s legs, knock him flat, and scatter.
Google Groups: alt.animals.felines
Socks the first cat-did he sellout?
Daniel Ventura
Jul 20, 1996, 3:00:00 AM
My cat thinks that Socks sold out. I think he’s jealous
Google Groups: rec.pets.cats
The First Cat has been found
poisenivy
Apr 11, 2001, 5:25:59 PM
Furry Member Of First Family Found
Ernie The Cat Discovered On Avenue Of The Stars
Paul J. Young, Staff Writer
April 10, 2001, 9:51 p.m. EDT
CENTURY CITY, Calif.—Ernie the cat is back. The feline that President Bush adopted and left in the care of a Brentwood buddy was found wandering the Avenue Of The Stars in Century City Monday night.
Twitter
Whitepaw the Cat
@WhitePaw2012
Let me be clear, I’ve sold used cars, surely I can be the president. #firstcat #tcat
12:55 AM · Nov 15, 2010·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
kris
@KristyKreme_13
All the White House needs is a cat. #FirstCat
10:42 PM · Oct 3, 2012·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
“rudeboy” rodney berry
@rodney_berry
Wait if you are president and have more then one cat you have to choose one to be first cat. That is awful! #FirstCat
1:14 PM · Nov 25, 2012·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Austin Vet DH
@Austin_Vets
He brought the first presidential cat to the White House and said, “Cats are smarter than any members of my Cabinet.” #MondayMotivation #PresidentsDay2018 #AbrahamLincoln #cat #wisdom #quotes #Lincoln #firstcat #pets
(A photo is shown on Abraham Lincoln and a cat.—e.)
1:19 PM · Feb 19, 2018·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
The Oval Pawffice® [Flag of United States] DOTUS Fans
@TheOvalPawffice
Pawffice of #COTUS & #DOTUS - the fan page for #Willow and #Commander Biden. Not affiliated with the #WhiteHouse. #FirstCat #FirstDog
Washington, DC theovalpawffice.com Joined November 2020