Misty Malarky Ying Yang, Amy Carter’s Siamese Cat
By admin | July 5, 2007
When President Jimmy Carter and his family entered the White House in 1977 his daughter Amy (youngest of four children and only daughter) brought her Siamese cat Misty Malarky Ying Yang to the White House with her. Misty was the last cat to occupy the White House grounds until President Bill Clinton arrived with Socks in 1993.
Misty was a well written about Presidential cat. He even had an article written about him (a mock interview) for the Focus section of the Christian Science Monitor on November 28, 1977.
That article was titled: First Cat denies rise in mice written by Louise Sweeney. A fun piece in which Misty talks about how he is clearly keeping the mouse population down even though the press is reporting otherwise. When asked how he preferred to be addressed Misty calmly replied, “my friends call me Misty, but you can call me Yang.”
Misty was clearly a Presidential Cat from a different area. One night he greeted President Jose Lopez Portillo of Mexico who had arrived for a state dinner. Even though Misty is descended from the royal line of cats of Siam he was shooed back up the red carpet stairs to the family quarters. No saucer of creme or seat at the table for him!
I do not know what happened to Misty after the Carters left the White House but I do know he was ten years old in 1986 when he appeared in a Purina Calendar. Misty was clearly a cat with a royal air about him, I am sure Amy misses him today.
- Trivia
- When Amy’s dog Grits was returned to his owner one of the reasons cited was the fact that the dog “upset” Misty.
- Misty appeared on the cover (and inside) of the 1986 Purina Cat Chow Celebrity Cat Calendar.
- Misty flew with Amy on the presidential helicopter.
Topics: Politics, President, Siamese |
March 7th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Hello, I do not know how did you get these very interesting and precise pieces of information and this picture… Well done, really fabulous story. I translate an extract to put in our blog dedicated to the siamese cats ;o) With our best regards, C & A & M & C.
March 7th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
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