Bush Family Cat Dies

"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