Matilda the Algonquin Hotel Cat(above) is celebrating her 14th birthday today with a lavish pawty that benefits the North Shore Animal League.
The Algonquin has housed a resident cat since the 1930s, when a stray cat (later named “Hamlet”) checked in permanently. Matilda has full run of the hotel. Her duties include greeting guests on arrival and sniffing their luggage, making sure the bellhops aren’t goofing off, and supervising any parties held at the hotel.
The Algonquin throws Matilda a big birthday bash each year, and some of the parties are more memorable than others. In 2002, while celebrating her seventh birthday, she jumped on her cake and bolted from the room, leaving a trail of buttercream paw prints.
When you’re as big a celebrity as Matilda, you can pull diva stunts like that with impunity.
At this year’s pawty Matilda will be treated to a designer birthday cake created by Lauri DiTunno, star of the TV show “Amazing Wedding Cakes.” The main event will be a feline fashion show hosted by Beth Stern, spokesperson for North Shore Animal League America.
Matilda will get the spa treatment before the start of the festivities with a special grooming by Artist Knox, star of the reality show “Beverly Hills Groomer”.
All proceeds from today’s event will be donated to Matilda’s favorite charity, North Shore Animal League America, the largest no-kill animal adoption and rescue organization in the world.
You can send purrthday greeting to Matilda via email or Facebook.
There’s still time to reserve your spot at today’s pawty! Call (212) 419-9197 to RSVP.
You’ll only need to make a $5.00 minimum donation to North Shore Animal League America.
Theatrical cats like Ike the piano playing cat (right) could be reintroduced to London’s theatre district as part of an ongoing bid to improve actors’ working conditions in the West End.
The strategy has been proposed to address complaints of rats, sewage and insufficient backstage facilities in a number of the capital’s ageing venues. It’s just part of a strategy to prompt theatre owners to rectify the problems.
If the proposal is passed the union will push for a widespread reintroduction of cats to theatre buildings in a bid to combat the proliferation of vermin therein. According to the motion, there has been a “marked rise in vermin infestation” over the last few years and notes that cats not only represent “an environmentally sound alternative to poison and traps, but [are] also good for morale”.
However, Richard Pulford, SOLT’s chief executive, casts doubts on the effectiveness of Equity’s proposal, saying, “My understanding is that rats normally see off cats. And if anybody knows a building in central London with substantial basements which doesn’t have rats, they are doing pretty well.”
Famous London Theatre Cats
Over the years, West End cats have achieved pinnacles of renown that their thespian friends might well envy. Here are just a couple of the famous felines:
Beerbohm was perhaps the most famous of the London theatre cats, a resident at the Gielgud Theatre from the 70s until the early 90s, when he retired to Kent with the theatre’s carpenter. Described as a “regal looking tabby,” he was known for venturing out on the boards at least once during each performance. He died peacefully in March 1995 and a photo of him still hangs in the Gielgud. He is the only cat to have received an obituary in The Stage.
Boy Cat (pictured, right) resided at the Noel Coward Theatre. Boy Cat famously ate Princess Margaret’s bouquet at a royal gala and jumped onto the stage during a performance of the musical Five Guys Named Moe.
Lilian resided at the St George’s theatre in Islington, and was known for sitting in the third row of the stalls.
Sadler frequented the Sadler’s Wells Theatre. He disappeared under mysterious circumstances early in February 1956, weeks before he was to star in a run of School for Fathers.
The ashes of former first cat, Socks Clinton, have been scattered in the rose garden at the Governor’s Mansion (see photo, below right) in Arkansas. The ceremony was attended by Linda Dixon of the Clinton Presidential Library and first lady Ginger Beebe, who read a poem she wrote in honor the famous tuxie.
On a porch just outside the kitchen, a plaque was erected to honor Socks, the Clinton’s family cat. The plaque notes that Socks was first cat of Arkansas from 1991 to 1993 and first cat of the United States from 1993 to 2001. “When (the Clintons) lived at the mansion that’s where Socks hung out, on the back porch there,” said Ron Maxwell, administrator of the mansion.
The Clintons adopted Socks when they were living at the Governor’s Mansion in 1991. Socks moved with the family to the White House when Bill Clinton was elected president. When the Clintons left the White House, Socks went to live with the Clinton’s secretary, Betty Currie, at her home in Maryland, a move that left many cat lovers furious with the Clintons.
Last year, Socks was diagnosed with cancer, and was euthanized on February 20th of this year. Reportedly, after Socks’ death, Betty Currie said she felt, “awful, awful, awful.”
The small urn in which the ashes were contained was later taken to the Clinton Presidential Library.
Maxwell said the ashes were scattered after a small ceremony attended by a few people, including Linda Dixon of the Clinton Presidential Library and first lady Ginger Beebe, who read a poem she wrote in honor the cat.
[LINK: NWA Online]
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Socks, the tuxedo-clad first cat of the Clinton administration was euthanized today at the Three Notch Veterinary Clinic in Maryland after battling cancer of the mouth and jaw for several months. He was about 20 years old.
Socks lived with Betty Currie, former President Bill Clinton’s secretary, after leaving the White House. The Clintons visited Socks, and Currie, when in Washington. 11-year-old Chelsea adopted Socks in 1991 after she saw the stray kitten at her piano teacher’s home in Little Rock, Arkansas. The cat moved into the governor’s mansion with the family and later to the White House.
“Socks brought much happiness to Chelsea and us over the years, and enjoyment to kids and cat lovers everywhere,” Bill and Hillary Clinton said in a joint statement released by the William J. Clinton Foundation. “We’re grateful for those memories, and we especially want to thank our good friend, Betty Currie, for taking such loving care of Socks for so many years.”
Socks had his own online fan club, appeared at animal charity events and was one of the subjects of Hillary Clinton’s book, “Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids’ Letters to the First Pets.”
When asked for his reaction, Rocky the Gutter Cat said, “Socks was an inspiration to Tuxedo cats everywhere, especially those of us who were once strays. He faced old age with grace and dignity, and was a role model for those of us enjoying our sunset years. He will be missed.”
Socks was a role model for Tuxie Catster Sadie, who said, “It is a sad day. Socks did live a good, long life, but, like da rest of us, not long enuff.”
Hey evrybuddy, Skeezix heer. I’m thrilled to be able to purrvide anuther update on Sammy the Post Office Cat! My best frend Calvin sent a blanket frum his mom’s ETSY store to Sammy at his vary own PO box, and yesterday he got a reply frum none other than Sammy hisself! Sammy rote, “The blanket is beautiful. I will nap on it for my next ‘spot’”. Sammy also purrvided an update on his explusion frum the Post Office:
Be assured, my mission is to have a continued presence at the Notasulga Post Office. My current station is on the sunny outside corner where we first met, weather permitting. My status for an inside, sunny, counter-top nap remains unknown. Even though I am a Post Office Box holder.
Sammy also gave an update on the anonnymuss sourpuss lady hoo got Sammy kikt owt of the Post Office:
Update: The miserable complainer has now filled a new complaint stating I am causing her allergies to flare. My caregivers have recommended an antihistamine to the complaining/ailing human.
Heer are my sugjesschuns for the miserable complaining sourpuss ladey:
Moove as far away from Sammy and Notasulga as yoo can. Like maybey Antartikka.
Ware a hazmat soot.
Git a life.
Maybe sum of yoo have other sugjeschuns. Yoo can leeve them in the comments sekshun. But pleeze, remember the kittens and keep it PG. Or at leest, PG13.
If yoo haven’t ritten to Sammy yet, heer’s his address:
President Bush’s family cat, India, has died at the age of 18 at the White House.
Press secretary Sally McDonough said in a statement, “The president, Mrs. Bush, Barbara, and Jenna are deeply saddened by the passing of their cat India (”Willie”). India was a beloved member of the Bush family for almost two decades. She will be greatly missed.”
The black American shorthair was named after Texas Rangers player Ruben Sierra (whose nickname was “El Indio”) by Bush twin Barbara, when she was 9 years old. The family’s nickname for India was “Kitty,” although she also answered to “Willie.”
India’s favorite food was tuna-flavored kitty treats, and her favorite nap spot was under the bed.
Theatrical cats like Ike the piano playing cat (right) could be reintroduced to London’s theatre district as part of an ongoing bid to improve actors’ working conditions in the West End.
Boy Cat (pictured, right) resided at the Noel Coward Theatre. Boy Cat famously ate Princess Margaret’s bouquet at a royal gala and jumped onto the stage during a performance of the musical Five Guys Named Moe.
photo, below right) in Arkansas. The ceremony was attended by Linda Dixon of the Clinton Presidential Library and first lady Ginger Beebe, who read a poem she wrote in honor the famous tuxie.
Socks, the tuxedo-clad first cat of the Clinton administration was euthanized today at the Three Notch Veterinary Clinic in Maryland after battling cancer of the mouth and jaw for several months. He was about 20 years old.
Hey evrybuddy, Skeezix heer. I’m thrilled to be able to purrvide anuther update on 
Press secretary Sally McDonough said in a statement, “The president, Mrs. Bush, Barbara, and Jenna are deeply saddened by the passing of their cat India (”Willie”). India was a beloved member of the Bush family for almost two decades. She will be greatly missed.” 
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