The Algonquin Hotel (www.algonquinhotel.com) in the heart of New York City is well known for its historic beauty. Built in 1902 in Midtown Manhattan, the hotel has attracted guests from all over the world who seek the best in comfort and convenience. Some guests, however, come to see Matilda, the hotels resident cat and a hotel tradition for more than 65 years.
When a stray cat wandered into the hotel in the late 1930s, the current owner, Frank Case, welcomed the feline guest. The staff gave the cat food and shelter, and the feline tradition stuck.
Todays current resident cat, Matilda, is a blue-eyed Birman that has been with the hotel for 10 years. She enjoys the run of the hotel, except the dining and kitchen areas, and prefers to watch guests come and go through the lobby. Matilda also receives emails from feline fanciers and former hotel guests, and she may be the only cat to have an assistant to answer her emails for her.
Matilda recently celebrated her birthday in grand style with a birthday party at the hotel, complete with a cake and hundreds of guests. She will also be honored this year as the 2006 Cat of the Year at the Westchester Cat Show.
Posted: July 13, 2006, 5:00 a.m. EST