Tales
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A FAMOUS CAT LOVER:
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ERNEST "PAPA" HEMINGWAY (1899-1961) was not only a Nobel Prize
winning author and macho big game hunter in Africa, he was a
fanatical lover of cats. Hemingway was known for having a
fiery temper which led to public feuds and four failed
marriages; but he definitely had a tender heart when it came
to his feline companions.
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During the 9 years he spent at his home in Key West, Florida,
where he wrote 70% of his work, he had as many as 60 cats
occupying the grounds. Many of them were inside crawling all
over his desk as he wrote masterpieces, such as "For Whom the
Bell Tolls" and others. He also kept another 50 to 60 cats at
a home in Cuba.
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What makes Hemingway's cats so unique is that many of them were
polydactyl, meaning they have extra toes on the paws, a condition
that can be passed on to the next generations.
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In spite of all his success in his life, "PAPA" suffered from
depression and took his own life in 1961 at his home in Idaho.
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Soon after his death, a local resident purchased his Key West
home and converted it into a museum. A private foundation
maintains the home, and cares for the 60 cats, including the
polydactly descendants of Hemingway's very own beloved friends.
These celebrity kitties roam freely on the grounds and
periodically some are sold to the public.
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You can tour the home and see the famous felines on any day of
the year, but when you do go, please control yourself and obey
the sign that says: "Please do not pick up the cats."
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For more information about the museum go to this website:
http://hemingwayhome.com
Take Me To The Top
- LET THERE BE CATS: CREATION OF THE CAT (THE UNTOLD STORY?)
- On the first day of creation, God created the cat.
- On the second day, God created man to serve the cat.
- On the third day, God created all the animals of the earth
to serve as potential food for the cat.
- On the fourth day, God created honest toil so that man could
labor for the good of the cat.
- On the fifth day, God created the sparkle ball so that the cat
might or might not play with it.
- On the sixth day, God created veterinary science to keep the
cat healthy and the man broke.
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On the seventh day, God tried to rest, but He had to scoop the
litterbox.
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Yes, it's a cat's world afterall. Amen!
Take Me To The Top
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THAT "POE" CAT
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Every school kid in America reads the works of Edgar Allan
Poe at one time or another. Poe is known for penning a range
of works from tender poetry to horrific and sinister short
stories, including "The Black Cat," a story of the mutilation
of a cat.
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Considering what happens to this poor puss, you would conclude
that Poe must have hated cats. But this is not the case at
all. In fact Poe loved cats and had many over the years.
One cat in particular, named Catterina, served the family in
a very special way.
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During the winter of 1846-47 the family was going through some
destitute times. Poe's wife Virginia was very ill with
tuberculosis. There was no money, no food, no fuel, and no
blankets. But there was Catterina, a large tortoiseshell cat,
who became a living blanket to the sick woman. Virginia would
bundle up in Edgar's overcoat and Catterina would lie on
Virginia's chest, sharing her much needed body heat with her
mistress keeping her warm and comfortable through her illness.
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Now, isn't that just like a cat?
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