Good News Monday: Hemingway Cats

The Hemingway cats who live in the former home of Ernest Hemingway, famed writer and adventurer, have won a minor battle that may or may not help in the dispute with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (In the event new readers are unfamiliar with the Hemingway cats, they are all polydactyl (many-toed) cats, descendents of a cat gifted to Hemingway in earlier years.) The Key West City Commission has exempted the Hemingway Home from a law that prohibits more than four domestic animals in each household.

About a year ago, USDA targeted the Hemingway Home as an "exhibitor" of cats, which would require a USDA Animal Welfare License. Officials of the home, of course, are disputing this position. In August of 2006, the U.S.D.A. threatened to impose a $200/day per cat fine, which would amount to almost $10,000/day. The Hemingway Museum trustees took the battle to Federal Court, asking for a ruling. The legal question is whether the cats are "on display for profit," as the U.S.D.A. maintains, or merely "residents of the museum" as the museum asserts.

The City Commission's ruling may prove to be the deciding point, but as of today, according to an Associated Press article, the U.S.D.A remains mum on the subject.

Additional Reading

• The Amazing Hemingway Cats
• Polydactyl Picture Gallery
• Previous Polydact Cat Photo Album

The polydact kitten shown here is Chester, who has a total of 15 toes in the front and 10 in the back. He can be seen in my Polydactyl Cats Picture Gallery.
_{Photo © Laura Allard}