WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- Socks , the cat who won international fame during his years in the Clinton White House , was euthanized Friday after months of treatment for cancer . Socks was adopted by Chelsea Clinton when her father was governor of Arkansas . Socks , who was born in 1989 , was put to sleep about 10 a.m. at Three Notch Veterinary Clinic in Hollywood , Maryland , said veterinary assistant Rae Dera . Veterinarians say he was probably either 19 or 20 years old . The cat had been losing weight since November and had been treated at the clinic , Dera said . He had been suffering from a cancer in his mouth and jaw . Since the Clintons left the White House in 2001 , Socks had lived with Betty Currie , former President Bill Clinton 's secretary . The Clintons were known to have visited Socks , and Currie , when in Washington . He had been a stray and was adopted by Chelsea Clinton , the Clintons ' daughter , when Bill Clinton was governor of Arkansas . `` Socks brought much happiness to Chelsea and us over the years , and enjoyment to kids and cat lovers everywhere , '' Bill and Hillary Clinton said in a joint statement released by the William J. Clinton Foundation . `` We 're grateful for those memories , and we especially want to thank our good friend , Betty Currie , for taking such loving care of Socks for so many years . '' The black-and-white feline was a fixture at the White House during the Clintons ' eight-year run . He was often photographed on the president 's shoulder and was given free rein of the presidential residence -- showing up in photos in the Oval Office and White House press briefing room . He had his own online fan club , appeared at animal charity events and was one of the subjects of now-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 's book , `` Dear Socks , Dear Buddy : Kids ' Letters to the First Pets . ''
Socks was euthanized after months of treatment for cancer . The dog had been diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, and the family said they were told he would not live past two years. Lived with President Clinton 's former secretary after Clinton left office .