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Bush Family Cat Dies

January 05, 2009 9:28 AM

"STATEMENT BY PRESS SECRETARY SALLY MCDONOUGH

"The President, Mrs. Bush, Barbara, and Jenna are deeply saddened by the passing of their cat India ('Willie').  The 18 year-old female black American Shorthair died Sunday, January 4, 2009 at home at the White House. When Barbara was nine years old, she named India after the former Texas Ranger baseball player, Ruben Sierra, who was called 'El Indio.' When Barbara and Jenna moved away to college, India, affectionately called 'Kitty' by the family, stayed at the White House with the President and Mrs. Bush. India was a beloved member of the Bush family for almost two decades.  She will be greatly missed."

ABC News' Jennifer Duck reminds us that India was re-named "Willie" after Hindu nationals in India took offense at the prospect of a cat being named after their country.

UPDATE: McDonough called us just now to say that it is an erroneous urban legend that India/Willie/Kitty went through a name change because of pressure from Hindu nationals. The cat's name was always India, McDonough says, named after El Indio, but the Bush girls called the cat "Willie" as a nickname before moving to the White House, and the First Lady always called India "Kitty" as a nickname.

- jpt

January 5, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (9)

User Comments

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The Clintons' "Buddy" the Lab is long
dead...run over by a truck while under
Bill's watch (Hill was away). "Socks",
the Clinton cat is still out there
being used for donations for the Clinton
Foundation (i.e., let's make this pair
of Arkyologists multi-multi-millionaires)......beasts of burden...
where's the SPCA?

Posted by: grizzly bare | Jan 6, 2009 8:44:27 PM

JaBe: It's obvious that you don't even know who Barbara is! The Barbara that they are talking about is George Bush's daughter! She is one of the twins. Her sister is Jenna. I think you have her confused with her mother Laura who is over 50.

Posted by: countrygirl | Jan 5, 2009 11:05:41 PM

I am a Democrat and Obama supporter. And I am deeply sorry for the loss of the Bush's family cat. I just lost my beloved 16 year old cat and I understand what a heartbreak it is! And to the "cradle-robber" commentator -- Barbara is W's daughter (named after his mother). His wife is Laura, and she appears to be entirely age-appropriate!

Posted by: Patricia | Jan 5, 2009 9:30:15 PM

This cat has nothing to do with either you are Bush's fan or not.
RIP India.

Posted by: catleya | Jan 5, 2009 5:24:57 PM

If Barbara was Nine and the cat was 18 then Barbara would be 27 and that would make George a craddle robber!

Posted by: JaBe | Jan 5, 2009 3:38:22 PM

Apparently, the death of India moved almost no one to give condolences. So RIP, India. I bet you were probably more sentient than GWB.

Posted by: kat | Jan 5, 2009 2:53:07 PM

Just one more name in Bush's long list of victims.

Posted by: Larry | Jan 5, 2009 1:59:10 PM

"ABC News' Jennifer Duck reminds us that India was re-named "Willie" after Hindu nationals in India took offense at the prospect of a cat being named after their country."

Uh oh, hopefully they dont find out about Asia Carerra being named after their continent.

Posted by: BertieW | Jan 5, 2009 11:01:26 AM

Sorry to hear about the loss of your beloved cat India. I just lost my beautiful black longhaired male cat "Ninjah" on Dec. 24, 2008 - he was 19 1/2 years old. I really miss my buddy and I bet you miss India as much. I'm sure she had a wonderful life!

Posted by: eyeonyou | Jan 5, 2009 10:31:13 AM

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