The passionate hunter and the fisherman capable to shoot a rhinoceros and to fight against a tuna of the huge sizes, the writer Ernest Hemingway had not a reputation for the fan of cats. It was until until his loyal friend Stanley Dexter dragged a lovely kitten to his house. Since then neighbors began to call the writer - Cat's dad.
Who such "Hemingway's cats"In two-storeyed house museum of the writer on the picturesque island Key West that in the State of Florida, already more than seven decade happily and carefree descendants of his favourite cat of breed a Maine Coon by nickname Snoubol live. It was presented to Hemingway by the familiar captain Stanley Dexter in 1935. Snoubol got to the house of the great writer a tiny kitten on which small pads there were six fingers instead of put to five. It captivated the owner at first singularity at once, and then and character.
There passed years, and now about fifty cats live in Hemingway's mansion. Almost all of them also have excess fingers, and at some their not six, and even seven. Predkov Snoubola, inherited a shestipalost, also call "Hemingway's cats".
Employees of the museum admit that most of visitors comes to them not personally to see the house in which lived and Hemingway worked and to look at his surprising cats.
"Hemingway's cats" – national property and the business card of the museumA lot of things are allowed to a crowd of cats in the museum of the writer. So, they can freely walk about on the house and a garden where the writer created the legendary novels "Have and Not Have", "A Farewell to Arms". It is allowed to three of them even to get on Hemingway's bed. This Trinity is considered "chosen".
"Hemingway's cats" bear very grandiose names. Among them there are Marlene Dietrich, Gary Cooper, Hary Truman, Gertrude Stein, Sophia Loren, Charlie Chaplin. However, there is among them also a besfamilny red cat by the name of Ivan.
During lifetime of the writer about 80 cats of unusual six-fingered breed lived in the house. When in it wanted to make the museum, living creatures tried to expel, but as cats at that time already considered themselves full owners, to make it was problematic. After vain attempts to move a cat's quarrel on the street it it was decided to leave. Long time museum employees had problems with local authorities. Under the law of the State of Florida, it is possible to keep no more than four cats in houses. Several years ago the authorities recognized "Hemingway's cats" by historical and national property.
What the mnogopalost at cats is dangerous byThe Mnogopalost of cats is an aberration and is called a polidaktiliya - it is anomaly of genetic character. It can be shown at any animal, however this pathology became especially popular among cats.
Polidaktiliya does not do harm to musculoskeletal abilities of cats, even, opposite – from one-two excess fingers only one advantage. They make cats more dexterous and tenacious.
Any breed is subject to it, but especially often it is shown at Maine Coons. Polidaktiliya is most widespread among the cats living in the western England, Wales, Canada and New England (the region in the northeast of the States). In the last there is also a museum of the writer. Probably, "Hemingway's cats" in vain do not waste time.