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In the News: Tails of Marin

A polydactyl paradise in Key West

By Adrienne Russo

While vacationing recently in Key West, I decided to visit the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, a colonial style mansion with lush grounds that’s home to dozens of six and seven-toed cats known as polydactyls. While most felines have five front toes and four back toes, polydactyl cats are fondly described as having mittens because of the extra toes on their paws. The history of the Hemingway home is very interesting. It was here during the 1930s that Ernest Hemingway wrote some of his most famous work, including A Farewell to Arms. Upon his death in 1961, the author’s house became a museum and permanent home for his cats. Hemingway was infatuated with polydactyl cats and strongly influenced by the popular superstition that they bring good luck. The cats of the Hemingway Museum have become so popular that the nickname “Hemingway Cats” is often used to describe polydactyls.

The origin of these cats can be traced back to the 1930s when Hemingway was given a six-toed cat named Snowball by a ship’s captain. Today, to the delight of tourists, around 60 of Snowball’s descendents roam the mansion and grounds (approximately half of the cats carry the polydactyl gene). While the majority of cats that live on the museum grounds are spayed or neutered, caretakers have implemented a carefully controlled breeding program to ensure that descendants of the Hemingway cat line continue to replace the few cats that die from illness or old age.

I was amazed by the number of cats roaming the mansion and gardens. Cats are everywhere, blending in with the grounds and meandering around this paradise home. I found a contented calico poolside, soaking up the rays. I encountered a small black and white polydactyl at the front entrance of the mansion. Upstairs lounging on Hemingway’s old bed was a well-fed medium-haired orange and white cat named Archibald MacLeish. In fact, all of the cats are named after movie stars, characters from Hemingway’s books or other famous poets and artists. There’s Joan Crawford, affectionately described by museum staff as a scaredy cat who prefers to hang out in her favorite hiding spots. And Emily Dickinson, a pretty dilute calico who spends her time sprawled near the guest house. 5 year old Charlie Chaplin, named for his tiny mustache and quiet personality, is known as the most photogenic feline resident.

Outside behind the house is a rare sight. Hemingway purchased a urinal from his favorite bar which has been converted into a water fountain for the cats. The cats enjoy a maze of pathways, jungle type plants and feline friendly patio furniture. There’s an impressive mini mansion cathouse and creative wooden shelters for those cats who crave sanctuary from tourists. Across from Hemingway’s writing studio is a cat cemetery where concrete stones display the names of all the cats that have lived at the Hemingway Home.

The health of the Hemingway cats is of utmost importance to museum staff. Routine procedures like vaccinations, flea treatment and regular check-ups are performed onsite by veterinarians. When I ran into an older gray polydactyl cat who was shaking his head (which can be a sign of an ear infection), I alerted one of the curators who assured me that “Zany” was on antibiotics and was going to spend the remainder of the day resting indoors. As an animal care technician, I was happy to see such prompt care and concern for these famed cats.

For more information about the Hemingway Home and Museum, visit www.hemingwayhome.com.

Adrienne Russo is an animal care technician at the Marin Humane Society,

Tails of Marin appears every Saturday in the Home & Garden section of the Marin Independent Journal