Taylor Swift’s Cats: All About Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson and Benjamin Button

Taylor Swift is a proud cat mom.

The Lover The singer’s family of pets includes three cats – Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson and Benjamin Button – whom she openly adores.

Swift has never been shy about making her cats a part of her personality, and fans love her even more for it. All three cats have appeared multiple times on her social media pages and even in some of her music videos. In 2020, the superstar’s pets were also featured on her holiday card, wearing cute winter gear against a black and white background reminiscent of her 2020 album. folklore.

The Grammy winner also said that her beloved cats have had some influence on her career. In 2019, she told TIME: “I have cats. I’m obsessed with them. I love my cats so much that when the role in the so-called CatsI was just like, I have to do this.” In fact, Swift even attended “cat school” on set to prepare for her role.

The Midnight The singer has spoken several times over the years about why she’s developed such an affinity for cats, telling TIME, “They’re very dignified. They’re independent. They’re very capable of handling their lives.”

Taylor Swift’s Instagram

Swift’s self-proclaimed status as a cat lover even did some good. Ahead of a stop in Houston on her Eras Tour, a local animal shelter has announced that it is reducing its fees for cat adoptions as a nod to Swift’s passion for animals.

Posting the announcement of the program — aptly named “Lucky $13” — on its website, HHS shared, “KARMA IS A CAT, IT PURS ON MY LAP BECAUSE IT LOVES ME!!!”

Here’s a rundown of everything there is to know about Swift’s three cats: Meredith, Olivia and Benjamin.

Meredith Gray

Taylor Swift’s Instagram

Swift’s first famous cat is a Scottish Fold named Meredith Gray (yes, she was named after Meredith Gray from Grey’s Anatomy). The pop star got Meredith in 2011.

The kitten has always had a special place in Swift’s heart. “She’s great. She’s, like, the cutest cat in the world,” the singer said shortly after bringing her home.

Their relationship isn’t one-sided, though—Swift has a devoted fan in Meredith. In 2012, when her then-new single “I Knew You Were Trouble” was playing on the radio, Swift recorded Meredith meowing along to the song.

Meredith has appeared several times on Swift’s Instagram, and is a real star herself. Watch closely in full Deadpool 2 spot Meredith: Appears in a T-shirt worn by Ryan Reynolds’ character in the film, which shows Meredith and her sister Olivia Benson sitting side-by-side with the caption “Olivia & Meredith Best Friends Purrrrr-Ever.” Scotch fold also appeared in Swift’s “JA!” music video from Panic! In a discotheque.

Still, Meredith might be Swift’s most withdrawn cat. In 2020, Swift encouraged her fans to quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic with a sweet photo of Meredith sitting in a toy, barely visible. In a tweet, the pop star wrote: “For Meredith, self-isolation is a way of life. Be like Meredith.”

Taylor Swift’s Instagram

In 2021, fans became concerned about Meredith when they realized they hadn’t seen many photos of her lately. Swift had to reassure everyone that the cat is fine — she just doesn’t like being the center of attention.

“We recently heard some rumors online,” Swift said in a video online, while holding her cat Benjamin Button. “I mean, they’re not about you, Benj, they’re about your sister.”

“The truth is, Meredith just hates being photographed,” she explained, showing several photos of the cat looking annoyed. Swift even included a clip of the cat running away as she confronted her about “recent allegations” that she was a “missing cat.”

Olivia Benson

Taylor Swift’s Instagram

Swift brought home her second cat, Olivia Benson, in 2014. Olivia is another Scottish Fold named after a TV character — she got her nickname from Mariska Hargitay’s character on Law and order: SVU.

In 2015, Olivia even had the opportunity to meet her namesake. Swift shared a video of the white kitten cuddling up next to Hargitay as she knelt down to feed her. “This is Olivia Benson meeting Olivia Benson and um, so far things are going well,” she said in the video.

Like Meredith, Olivia is a bit of a star. She also appeared in Deadpool 2 and in “I!” music video. In 2017, Olivia had her moment in the spotlight when she was featured in an AT&T ad campaign clip with Swift. In a video posted by Swift on her Instagram, the singer crawls on the floor and asks Olivia: “Are you a saber-toothed tiger cub? Are you my baby werewolf? Are you the princess of Meow Town? Are you just a melting snowman? Are you you just a sloth? Because you’re just a little unicorn cat!”

Olivia also joined her mom in a Diet Coke commercial. In the clip, Swift plays with the cat as she drinks a can of soda — but every time she takes a sip, more cats seem to surround Olivia.

Taylor Swift’s Instagram

The Scottish Fold even helped Swift prepare for her Reputation stadium tour in 2018. The “Shake It Off” singer posted a photo of Olivia staring at the camera mid-stretch with the caption, “We’re all stretching to get ready for that choreo on tour.”

In 2019, Olivia joined her mom and brother Benjamin at the Billboard Music Awards, where she had yet another brush with fame after bumping into Paula Abdul.

“I’m trying to give them a normal upbringing, but when the little ones and I ran into the flawless @paulaabdul on our way to the red carpet, we had to take a picture RIGHT UP,” Swift captioned a photo of her, Abdul and two cats. The meeting was particularly memorable for Abdul, who later recounted it Access to Hollywood she’s actually allergic to cats!

Benjamin Button

Taylor Swift’s Instagram

Swift got her third cat, Benjamin Button, in 2019. In keeping with tradition, she named him after a fictional character she loves: Brad Pitt’s Benjamin Button in the movie of the same name. Unlike his feline sisters, Benjamin is a Ragdoll.

The sweet story of adopting a kitten began when Swift met him on the set of the music video for the song “ME!” Benjamin starred in the video alongside Meredith and Olivia, even though Swift still wasn’t his cat mom.

In a live Instagram video with Panic! at Brendon Urie’s Discotheque, Swift talked about how she took Benjamin home with her after filming the video. “He was just a cute kitten that didn’t have a home,” she said, noting that he was part of a program that “tries to adopt cute kittens by putting them in commercials and stuff.”

When the host asked Swift if she wanted to hold the cat before their scene, she said she knew she’d come home with it then. “She gave me this tiny cat and he just started purring and … looked at me like, ‘You’re my mom and we’re going to live together.’ I fell in love,” Swift said. “I looked at Brendon and he said, ‘You’re going to get a cat, aren’t you?’ ”

A few days later, Swift introduced him to the world on Instagram with a sweet photo of the two, writing, “And then there were three…”

Taylor Swift’s Instagram

In December 2021, Swift invited Benjamin to participate in the viral hashtag “#ImFeeling22”. She posted a video on TikTok of herself singing her song “22,” panning the camera to show a shot of Benjamin. She captioned the video: “Benjamin is 22 cat years old. #ImFeeling22.”

Swift’s cats have been a constant in her life, and even her ex-boyfriends have had bonding moments with them, including Joe Alwyn, from whom the singer split in April 2023.

Benjamin joined Swift on the cover TIME in December 2023. The cat looked like a fluffy addition as it gracefully rested on the singer’s shoulders.

“Time Magazine: We’d like to name you Person of the Year- / Me: Can I bring my cat,” Swift quipped on Instagram.

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Source: HIS Education