Hemingway Cat 2008
Posted on by Yael Ben-Ari

The Hemingway Cats Are Safe

Hemingway Mansion 2008
Hemingway Mansion 2008

About ten years ago I made the long drive from Miami to Key West and just missed the last tour of the day at the Hemingway mansion. We walked around the outside and took pictures of it and several of the Six toed cats that inhabit the grounds before heading down the street for some Key Lime Pie.

Hemingway Cat 2008
Hemingway Cat 2008

Just prior to Hurricane Irma Hitting Florida this week, I read an article of how the Hemingway estate had built a protective enclosure for the kitties to go into when the storm hits and how there are protective features and drainage that reduced the risk of flooding in the building. Staff was staying to look over them as well. Still nervous that this may not be enough, I was relieved to see an article that the Hemingway cats were safe and had weathered the storm. Raja was thankful to hear this about his six toed brethren.

Hurricane Dennis Key West - Pixabay
Hurricane Dennis Key West – Pixabay

Still, some kitties and doggies somehow had to face the storm on their own, either because they couldn’t be found before the storm, were stray, or worst, had a thoughtless owner who had left them outside.

A friend in Florida posted an image on Facebook of a poor kitty that a friend of hers had found in her garage during the storm. They are now trying to find the owner.

The police fully intend to prosecute the cruel people who intentionally left their animals outside in the storm. And good for them.

Many of the shelters in Florida sent animals to other shelters throughout the country prior to the storm so they could accommodate the influx of animals who had become separated from their owners during the hurricane.

I donated money to the rescue efforts for the pets and humans in Harvey’s wake last week and plan to do so again for Irma. The sources I know the best for pets are the ASPCA, and the Animal Rescue Site.  But there are many others more local to Florida, Texas, and now, the Carolinas.

Here are links to their websites: ASPCA’s Response To Irma
And:  The Animal Rescue Site.

Feel free to add any other similar links in the comments section.

Raja Kitty Sleeping Original
Raja Sleeping Original

Raja and Zoe are very thankful to be in a nice, dry, warm house, but are thinking of the kitties and other animals in the storm areas.  And we will be thinking of them, friends, family and other humans who have been effected.  And thankful our family and friends are safe.

 

27 Replies to “The Hemingway Cats Are Safe”

  1. Thank you for sharing and thank you so much for donating. Living on social benefits, I can’t afford to donate (and it frankly feels also wrong to donate when I live on money people have “donated” (paid taxes) to me), but I’m so glad when someone else does. When I get back on my feet, I’m looking forward to donating again.

    And I’m impressed that the police in all the chaos already made a statement on pets!

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    1. I am relieved that they are safe. And gratified that they are going to seek justice for people who would intentionally expose their animals to a storm like this.
      Yael

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  2. I too kept my eye on the cats at the Hemingway Museum in Key West, and glad to hear they are safe. Key West gets its share of hurricanes, being out at the end of that long chain of islands. We salute the folks that are working hard to keep animals safe and healthy!

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  3. WOW! You won’t believe this but I was just thinking about the Hemingway cats and how they were doing. I visited them a couple years ago (and got to go on the tour) so happy for this post!! And good to be reminded that not all pets are as lucky!

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  4. Our Mom kept asking the TV, “What about the cats???” when the announcer kept talking on and on about the house weathering the storm, and finally, she heard they were all safe and well. Whew! Thank you for sharing and donating. We helped, too, and hope others will as well. This isn’t going to be cleaned up, or animals reunited, anytime soon.

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    1. I guess I’m not alone in worrying about what happened to the cats. So glad I found out rather quickly that they were ok. I agree that it may be some time before missing pets are reunited with their owners. But I would hope that most of them will.
      Yael

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    1. I’m glad that the Hemingway cats are ok, but I am worried about the other animals in Florida who became separated from their owners. Hoping that they will be reunited with their owners.
      Yael

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  8. I had recently heard the kitties at Hemingway were safe, Thank COD!!!!!! A few days ago I posted a Hurricane Preparedness post (which is on my sidebar of my blog) and I also posted a photo on my sidebar of Texas, that if you click on it, it also lists tons of places to donate. Thank you for posting yours too!! We can never have too many options!

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  10. We were so glad to hear that they were safe, we were worried about them. The peeps got to visit them several years ago. Thanks for joining the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!

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    1. Thanks, Brian. We were glad too. We only got to see the outside of the mansion and a few if the cats, because we got there too laten the day. Would be nice to tour if I ever go back.
      Yael

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  11. It sounds like those Hemingway kitties are treated very well and that the humans in their care had a disaster plan in place to ensure the safety of the kitties. Miss Yael, I’m so glad to hear that you, Zoe, Raja, & your friends & loved ones are safe. Mine are, too, thankfully! (purring & kneading). Hugs!

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