United States Presidential Pets

History tells us that presidents and first ladies haven’t been the only residents of the White House. Hundreds of presidential pets have called 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue home since George Washington first took up office.

And these presidential pets weren’t only dogs and cats, although there was certainly a fair share of them. From exotics received as gifts from foreign dignitaries to plain old “critters”, the diversity of animals that roamed the White House halls and lawns is astounding.

Let’s take a look at some of the animals lucky enough to be called “first pets” and the presidents and first ladies who owned them.

Unusual Presidential Pets

• President John Quincy Adams owned silkworms. First Lady Louisa Adams spun their silk.

• Calvin Coolidge was gifted a pygmy hippopotamus which he named Billy. Billy eventually took up residence at the National Zoo in Washington D.C.

• Martin Van Buren owned two tiger cubs and was forced by Congress to donate them to the zoo.

• William McKinley owned a Yellow-headed Mexican Parrot that could whistle “Yankee Doodle.”

• The emperor of Ethiopia gave Theodore Roosevelt a spotted hyena.

Wild Animals as Presidential Pets

• Calvin Coolidge owned a black bear and a bobcat.

• Presidents Benjamin Harrison and Herbert Hoover both owned opossums.

• Thomas Jefferson was gifted two grizzly bear cubs, but gave them away.

• Warren G. Harding kept a pet squirrel named Pete.

Miscellaneous Presidential Pets Points

• President Calvin Coolidge had the most pets, 27 in total.

• Both George Washington and Zachary Taylor kept the horses that they had ridden in battle at the White House.

• James Madison owned a parrot, Polly. Polly outlived both Madison and his wife, Dolley.

• Lyndon B. Johnson owned two beagles named Him and Her.

• Presidents Polk and Trump are the only presidents who didn’t own pets.