What did Abraham Lincoln use to feed his cat?

Abraham Lincoln used a gold fork to feed his cat, Tabby. The amusing incident reportedly took place during a formal White House dinner, where Tabby sat beside the president at the table.

Mary Todd Lincoln objected that it was improper to feed a cat with such an expensive utensil. Lincoln defended the gesture with a joke: if the gold fork had been good enough for former President James Buchanan, it was good enough for Tabby. The story comes from later reminiscences rather than a contemporary presidential record, so it is best presented as a well-known historical anecdote.

Lincoln was famously fond of animals, especially cats. The Lincoln family kept two White House cats, Tabby and Dixie, and Mary reportedly described her husband's interest in cats as one of his hobbies. Lincoln also owned dogs and was remembered for acts of kindness toward animals.