Cats not only take residence in people’s homes, but they also take residence in historical buildings (see our post about the Cats of Ernest Hemingway’s Home), many types of businesses (see our post about Marzipan the cat of Astor Theatre, and Tama the Stationmaster Cat), and even in government offices (see our post about the Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office in the UK). One such famous ragdoll feline named Matilda is the resident cat at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City.
Matilda has free range of the hotel (with exception of the kitchen and dining areas), and she is one of the most popular attractions at the New York hotel. Not only do guests love visiting with Matilda, but people from all over the world send Matilda letter mail and e-mails, which are read and answered by the hotel manager’s executive assistant. Matilda is even celebrated once a year with an extravagant birthday party – with many of her best friends of course. Matilda is certainly a local New York celebrity, but she isn’t the first resident Algonquin Hotel cat…
The first Algonquin Hotel cat arrived at the hotel in the late 1930s. This feline walked into the hotel malnourished and looking a mess. Lucky for this cat, the owner of the hotel, Frank Case, welcomed him with open arms, and made the hotel his new forever home. It is said that this first kitty was given the proper theatrical name “Hamlet” by the famous actor John Barrymore.
Since this time, the hotel has made a tradition of having a resident cat. The males are given the name “Hamlet” and the females are named “Matilda”, as would suit a proper tradition, of course.
Check out Matilda’s official page on the Algonquin Hotel website HERE, and see even more pictures of her on the Facebook Page “Matilda – The Algonquin Hotel Cat” HERE.
Is there a famous feline you’d like to see featured in one of our Famous Friday posts?
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Congratulations to one of our past Black Cat Contest winners - Bandit! Click 
