Sad news

Socks was Chelsea's cat, she always was and, if you remember, Chelsea went off to college right about the time the Clinton's left office. Rather than further disrupting his life, and since Betty had been pretty much caring for him anyway, they chose to let her keep him. Betty was more than a "Caretaker" she was Sock's friend and it was obviously that it was better for a cat, then already 11, to go some place where he would be happy - and Buddy free - if you remember, Socks and Mr. Bill's dog, Buddy, didn't get along and Socks hated Buddy on sight. (I always knew he had good taste.)

That changes things. It was really Betty's cat if she was the one caring for him. You can't own a cat. The cat owns you. When I moved out of my parents house I wanted to take "my" cat. No dice. My mom said the cat would be happier where he was. Cats don't like change. They don't but sometimes they have to deal with it. She was also the one caring for him. She fell totally in love with him even though he was supposedly my cat. The cat was better of where he was. I had 1 wild year with a roommate, them we settled down and each got our own place. Then I adopted another cat and we wee together 16 years.

I so agree. I had to put one of my cats to sleep last Sept, she was a 16 yr old outside cat. And yes, I had her for all but about a month of those 16 years since we helped a little old lady out by catching her and her mom and 3 sibs. Now, she didn't spend all of those 16 years outside, but the last 8 mostly outside. And she was a pretty sick cat at the end of that time. No, I just thought everyone that loved the fact that for the last 16 years we actually had a First Cat, first Socks and then India, would want to know that Socks had passed on. Rather than a dog, I would want the Obama's to rescue a cat rather than buy a dog (even rescue a dog would be better than going to a breeder.)

even famous animals with the best health care can't live forever

Oh, I'm sorry my friend. I didn't understand that right... I read it as being your cat, and quite thought you had a cat called Socks. lol.

well, he wasn't my cat, he was the former President, Clinton's cat and I wish they had BOTH stayed in Arkansas if it had meant that Mr. Bill hadn't been President

As the "momma" of 25 rescues (some more rescued than others) I really appreciated that he was a no-breed stray off the street.

I don't think the Obama's are cat sort of people either. He promised his kids a dog, but never allowed them one before - I think we can see just what kind of person he is from that.

I don't walk barefoot because I stepped on a nail and had to get a tetanus shot. but I've been bitten and scratched, heck, one of the cats we have has sent me to the hospital twice! but I still like them

I'm glad your parents rescued your cats. All mine are rescues of one sort or another. Ronnie, one of our semi-ferals, was also left by a gas station. well, her name is really Chevron after the kind of gas station she was left by.

well, it wasn't up long, but I caught it

He's only been in the White House a month, and he's barely stopped running. I do think there is a certain amount of reason he hasn't gotten that dog yet. as for his girls having allergies, I once met a person who "claimed" to have allergies, but watching his reaction to my cats, he wasn't allergic....

they have many cats in the White House, but some are less well known than others. Lincoln was a well known cat lover, and JFK's daughter had a Siamese

I think he was a good ambassador for pets and pet lovers. I just wish that everyone would see that their animal is so well taken care of after they are no longer interested in them.

Yeah, I'm sure he'll be waiting at the Rainbow Bridge for Betty, not any of his previous owners, probably doesn't even remember them.

Yeah, I always viewed Socks as the high point of the Clinton's stay in the White House.