Cat breaks into one of the most secure facilities in the world

By Luzia Geier

Washington, D.C. (USA) - An unusual visit to the White House grounds: a cat has strayed onto the tightly secured North Lawn of the US government headquarters in Washington - and caused a stir among journalists who documented the appearance of the gray, green-eyed animal named Sophie on social media.

Sophie the cat roams the North Lawn of the White House.
Sophie the cat roams the North Lawn of the White House.  © Tom Brenner/AP/dpa

Finally, the owner was tracked down together with White House employees.

For a short time, Sophie even ended up in the famous briefing room, where reporters normally put their questions to Karoline Leavitt (27), the spokesperson for US President Donald Trump (78).

A reporter reported the sighting on the X platform and explained that Sophie was wearing a collar and possibly also an airtag - a small tracking device that can be used to locate objects or pets via smartphone. In a video, a journalist can be seen holding the animal in her arms and joking: "It could be that she has some kind of listening device."

Sophie was eventually reunited with her owner - there had been talk of an owner in the meantime - and it came to light that the cat was working herself.

Reporter Kate Sullivan (r.) brings Sophie to her owner Alec Augustine in front of the White House.
Reporter Kate Sullivan (r.) brings Sophie to her owner Alec Augustine in front of the White House.  © Tom Brenner/AP/dpa

Sophie the cat was at work

The cat that strayed onto the White House grounds has caused quite a stir.
The cat that strayed onto the White House grounds has caused quite a stir.  © Alex Brandon/AP/dpa

As the US broadcaster News Nation reports, she is part of the "Blue Collar Cats Program", an initiative of an animal welfare organization in Washington that offers stray cats a new perspective.

As part of the program, the animals are given a blue tracking collar and placed with businesses or homeowners who give them an outdoor home. In return, the cats perform a useful task: they keep the area free of rats. Like other major US cities, the capital Washington is also struggling with a persistent rat infestation.

As the incident occurred on Good Friday of all days, a reporter commented: "Good Friday news."

The grounds around the White House are one of the most heavily secured facilities in the world. The Secret Service monitors every movement; cameras and access barriers protect the area around the clock.

Only recently, however, a small child managed to gain access: the boy apparently slipped through the fence unnoticed and was returned to his parents by security forces a short time later.