|
In
the 1930's, a scruffy cat wandered into the luxurious Algonquin
Hotel in New York City, New York looking for a handout. The staff gave
him more than a good meal: they gave her a permanent home. And
there has been a
cat-in-residence at the Algonquin ever since. Male cats have been
named Hamlet (John Barrymore named the original cat) and female cats
have been named Mathilda.
The current resident cat, Mathilda, has the run of the property except for dining areas and the kitchen, but she prefers to watch the comings and goings of visitors in the lobby. Mathilda has her own miniature chaise lounge just to the left of the entrance, though some have reported that she prefers to sleep in a luggage cart.. Each year, the Algonquin holds a birthday party for Mathilda. In 2002, at her 7th birthday party with 150 close friends, she made her mark by jumping onto her cake then walked out of the room, leaving doughy cat prints in her wake. The Algonquin cat has been immortalized in a children's book - The Algonquin Cat  -
and a 24-karat gold pendant. Mathilda has her own Facebook page
and even has her own email address. In 2008, Mathilda made sweeping
changes at the Algonquin, when she
designed a program that opened the doors of the historic Algonquin
hotel to other felines and furry friends for the first time in the
property’s history. Pet guests are greeted with a
“purrrsonalized” welcome kit including a
letter from Matilda, litter box (waste bags and latex gloves for the
humans), food and water bowls, floor mat, and a list of available
services. |
From the Algonquin's website and various news releases
