The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum provides a sanctuary to 54 polydactyl (six-toed) cats. According to the museum, a ship captain once gave Ernest a white six-toed cat, and now some of its descendents live in the Hemingway Home and Museum located in Key West–precisely where Hurricane Irma is now making landfall.
As curator David Gonzales explains above, he and the 54 Hemingway cats have no plans to evacuate. They’re going to ride out the storm and protect the novelist’s historic home. We wish them all the best. The same goes to all of our friends in Florida. We’ll see you when the storm passes.
You can see some of the Hemingway polydactyl cats here.
Related Content:
Seven Tips From Ernest Hemingway on How to Write Fiction
Ernest Hemingway Creates a Reading List for a Young Writer, 1934
Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Faulkner: A Free Yale Course
Praying that Mr. Gonzales’ & the cats are safe in Hemingway’s well built home!!
I hope there is an update on the cats and staff soon. I have not been able to get them out of my mind.
I hope all is well with the people & cats in the Hemingway home. Prayers to all in the way of Irma. West Coast CA. is thinking of you all.
I too want an update. I have thought about the kitties constantly since I first heard Irma was bound for the keys. I hope and pray they and the adults are ok.
How are the Hemingway cats!!!
Please let us know in Nashville if you hear anything!
I walked by St. Francis of Assisi house yesterday in NYC. Said prayer for the kind folk taking care of the cats. And for the cats too.
Respect all creatures of God. I feel sorry for you, you’re ignorant.
Please let us how know how you guys are doing and how the cats are doing. Hemingway House at such an amazing place and the cats are amazing too I hope everyone is okay!!
I hope to hear soon on how everyone and the kitties are doing. I’m feeling so nervous……prayers to all. It’s a tough decision to put all the kitties in cages, too. Take care,
~waiting in MN~
So anxious waiting to hear some good news about these folks and their little charges. Praying for a happy outcome
You are a legend
x
Hoping to hear soon on how the cats and their caregivers made out during Irma. I pray for a happy endin
We really hope that the staff, cats and Hemmingway house is OK. We have visited them many times and pray for a good outcome. Hope to hear soon.
We want an update!
Prayers for safety of cats & staff!!
Please inform us when you can , as many are worried about the home, people, and the cats!!!
I am very worried about them all but realize communication after a storm is usually impossible. Hope someone can provide info soon
Holding my breath here in So Cal. Anxiously looking for some good news.
Prayers for kitties & caretakers. Looking forward to an update.
I am praying for all of you.
Kudos to David Gonzales. It sounds like you have this under control. Thank you
To David Gonzales: I think you have every thing under control. Thank you
To David Gonzales: Thank you for what you’re doing. I think you have this well thought out.
Thank you,
Brick Ranson
I’m listening to MSNBC and Hemingway House curator, Dave Gonzales, phoned in. They have no internet, but have phone. It sounds like all the staff and all the cats made it through fine. He said the power is out but the have three generators running.
Please Update us How Hemmingway Cats R and the Staff And Great Guy David Gonzalez caring For them- Saw (And im a Cats Owner-2 – and Animal Lover- So worried About The Hemmingway Cats & STAFF- in Key West ? So worried -saw what Anna wolek said-4:48PM That David Phoned in -Are OK There
So happy to hear they are okay. I have been so worried for everyone.
THANK GOD THAT THE HEMMINGWAY CATS ARE SAFE. WHEN WE VISITED KEY WEST IT WAS SAID THAT KEY WEST HAS MORE CATS (HOMELESS/ON THE STREETS)THAN PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING THERE. I’M PRAYING FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL THE PEOPLE, GOD’S LIVING CREATURES, PETS, INCLUDING PET BIRDS, AND
OTHER PET TYPES, INCLUDING TANKED FISH,etc. GOD CARES FOR ALL OF HIS CREATION. THIS HURRICANE (AND OTHERS) DEMONTRATES THE AWESOME POWER OF A LIVING GOD AND CREATOR OF UNIVERSES!
Knew someone would know if they all made it ok, great to hear. I was intensely worried about storm surge, considering the keys are at sea level and such small islands. Watched the ‘southernmost point’ marker cam last night, and until around 2:53am waves were at ok levels compared to the seawall there, no flooding, which really surprised me for that point in time considering the eye was very near there. Then it went out.