Pushinka was a stray cat that belonged to the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, who became the first human in space in 1961.
Yuri Gagarin's cat, Pushinka, was a gift to his daughter, Yulia, from the U.S. space program.
Pushinka's descendants went on to become beloved pets in the Gagarin family.
History of Pushinka
Pushinka was a special gift from Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev to Caroline Kennedy after the Cuban Missile Crisis.
She was a mixed breed dog, and her name means fluffy in Russian.
Caroline's mother, Jackie Kennedy, inadvertently started the whole thing by asking Khrushchev about Strelka's puppies at a state dinner in Vienna.
Pushinka was sent to the White House, and the Secret Service checked her for bugs to make sure the Soviets weren't using her as a spy.
After that, Pushinka became part of the Kennedy family and was known for being fluffy.
She struck up a romance with the Kennedy's Welsh terrier, Charlie, and had puppies in June 1963.
Caroline and John-John named the puppies Butterfly, White Tips, Blackie, and Streaker, and JFK referred to them as "pupniks" because Pushinka was the daughter of a dog who had been to space on the Russians' Sputnik 2.
The Secret Service checked the puppies for bugs too, just in case.
Broaden your view: Liberty the Dog
Frequently Asked Questions
Who gave JFK Pushinka?
Pushinka was a gift from Nikita Khrushchev, the Premier of the Soviet Union, to President Kennedy.
Why was Pushinka's mom famous?
Pushinka's mom, Strelka, was famous for being the first living creature to orbit the Earth and survive. This historic achievement showcased Moscow's lead in the space race.
Sources
- Pushinka the dog: How a Soviet space dog's puppy wound ... (rbth.com)
- Bark At the Moon: A Short History of Soviet Canine Cosmonauts (about.com)
- "Subject Files: Dog records: Pushinka" (jfklibrary.org)
- JFK's Dog, Pushinka (presidentialpetmuseum.com)
- Pushinka (heathervoight.com)
- Vanness Pens (vanness1938.com)
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