Today' host Jenna Bush Hager joyfully welcomes 'Mr Mango' as newest furry family member

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: On a recent episode of ‘Today with Hoda and Jenna,' the mother of three Jenna Bush Hager shared that she added a new kitten to her household as a Christmas present for her younger daughter, Poppy.

The latest member, a male cat named Mr Mango Mellow, has now become a part of the Hager family, joining their other cat, Hollywood.

Hollywood, the initial feline addition, was welcomed into the family last Christmas.

Hager also explained how they chose the new fuzzy member’s name as it sounded quirky.

Jenna Bush Hager welcomes new kitten to her family

On Wednesday’s segment of ‘Today with Hoda and Jenna,' Hoda Kotb expressed her enthusiasm for a fresh start in the new year and the joy of new additions.

During the show, she pointed out, “And someone here at this table has a new addition to their family,” as Jenna Bush Hager then revealed that they had welcomed a new member into the Hager clan.

Hager told Kotb, “It’s been a big, big deal because I’d like to introduce you to ... Mr Mango Mellow Hager,” admitting that her 8-year-old daughter, Poppy, received the gift of a fluffy, white kitten for Christmas.

Hager also explained the reasoning behind the name "Mr Mango Mellow" on the show.

She mentioned that the "Mango" part of the name was chosen by her daughter Poppy, but when asked why, Hager humorously said, “I can’t go inside that brilliant brain.”

The second part of the name, "Mellow," was inspired by the kitten's calm and easygoing nature, with a playful reference to his resemblance to a marshmallow.

Hager said, “Santa gave Poppy the baby and she was so excited she nearly started to cry. She told all of her friends.”

The Hager family officially welcomed Mr Mango Mellow into their home on January 2nd, and Hager reported that things have been "so far, so good."

She mentioned that she's had to take some extra Zyrtec to manage her allergies with the new addition to the family.

The new addition is the second cat to become part of the Hager family, following their first feline addition, Hollywood.

Hollywood was a Christmas gift to Hager’s daughter Mila, who is 10 years old, at the end of 2022.

Jenna Bush Hager introduces Hollywood

On January 30 last year, Jenna Bush Hager shared a heartwarming video introducing Hollywood to her followers on social media.

In the post, she wrote, “Instagram, meet Hollywood! My eyes are red from cat allergies, but I love her.”

She said in the video, “Hello, everybody. Meet Hollywood. Do you see why we call her Hollywood?”

Hager continued, “She’s beautiful. But we call her Holly for short. Holly, middle name Wood, last name Hager. But last night, she was covered in spaghetti. So we think she’s Italian because the kids kept dropping noodles on her body. So we think her name is Botticelli. Holly Botticelli Hager.”

When Hoda Kotb inquired about Hollywood's reaction to the new addition to the household, Hager shared that Hollywood is "so happy to have a baby brother."

Jenna Bush Hager explains her love for cats

Despite dealing with allergies, Hager has wholeheartedly embraced having cats in the family.

She even demonstrated her enthusiasm by recreating a pose reminiscent of Taylor Swift's iconic 'Time Person of the Year' photo, featuring a cat around her neck.

She captioned the post, “Better late than never: @taylorswift you inspire in all the ways! I wish I had a black leotard and a red lip on, but I don’t. Wishing y’all a very merry Swiftmas and CATmas!”

Hoda Kotb inquired with Hager about when a fondness for cats becomes "cat lady" status. Hager replied, "I believe I've reached that point, and I'm content embracing it. I feel grounded and happy with who I am."

She explained that her love for cats dates back to her childhood when they were somewhat like "forbidden fruit" due to her allergies.

Hager fondly recalled her mom, Laura Bush, having a cat named Dewey, named after the Dewey Decimal System, when she was in her 20s.

She emphasized her mother's comfort with herself, saying, "She was totally comfortable with who she was."

Hager continued, recalling her childhood with cats, despite her allergies, stating, "So from the time we were born, we had a cat. I would just sit there, sucking my thumb with my eyes swollen shut because I’m highly allergic, but I don’t care.”

Kotb affectionately added, "By the way, that’s love.