Key West Says Hemingway Cats Can Stay
The Key West City Commission has sided with the Hemingway cats in their fight against the USDA. The city has exempted the Hemingway house from a city law that prohibits more than four domestic animals per household.
The city states that: “the cats reside on the property just as the cats did in the time of Hemingway himself. They are not on exhibition in the manner of circus animals. … The City Commission finds that family of polydactyl Hemingway cats are indeed animals of historic, social and tourism significance.” The commission also states that the cats are an important part of the history and environment of the Hemingway House.
These polydactyl cats have been in the middle of a dispute between the USDA and the museum. The USDA says that the museum is an “exhibitor” of cats and requires a special license. They also want the museum to cage all of the cats. The agency is sending out a cat behaviorist later this month to assess the cats’ well-being.
Source: CNN
(Thanks merlinmarshall)
July 10th, 2007 at 10:40 am
Smart City Key West City Commission–Hope they win this fight to let the cats stay without any caging going on.
The ghost of Hemenway has to help win this fight.
July 10th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
The USDA should have something better to do with taxpayers’ money than to bother these cats.
November 6th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Agents “posing as tourists”, yeah right! Stop wasting taxpayers’ money on free vacations for the USDA agents. The cats have happily managed for 40 some years with no problems whatsoever, and all of a sudden they’re in danger? I have witnessed the cats’ lives personally and did not see any signs of neglect or abuse. Just happy, friendly cats that don’t bother anyone.