ohmidog!

First Cat Socks on one of his favorite perches: Bill Clinton's shoulder

Former First Cat Socks, who became an international celebrity during the Clinton years, has been put to sleep. Socks was somewhere between 19 and 20 years old and had been suffering from cancer of the mouth and jaw for several months.

Socks was a highly-regarded fixture at the White House, often appearing in photographs perched on President Clinton’s shoulder. He had free run of the family residential quarters and often visited in the Oval Office and press briefing room. He became a spokes-cat for animal charities, appeared at numerous events, and was the subject of a book by now Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, entitled “Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids’ Letters to the First Pets.” He also had his own international fan club.

Socks was originally a stray and was rescued by Chelsea Clinton while the Clintons were still in Arkansas. In recent years, he has lived with Clinton secretary Betty Currie in Washington, although the Clintons have visited him often.

In a joint statement, Bill and Hilary Clinton said, “Socks brought much happiness to Chelsea and us over the years, and enjoyment to kids and cat lovers everywhere.” They went on to thank Betty Currie for providing a home for Socks.