Ernest Hemingway’s Key West home is an historic landmark visited my thousands every year. But the year round residents are made up of various staff members and some 54 cats. Descendants of the literary icons own cats.
So when Irma came roaring onto land, many feared the felines we’re in the path of destruction. Hemingway’s own
granddaughter, Marial, even calling for staff to evacuate.
But Dave Gonzales, the curator of the museum, stayed put with the cats and reported to MSNBC on Sunday night that the home, staff and all 54 cats survived.
“The cats seemed to be more aware sooner of the storm coming in,” Gonzales said. “In fact, when we started to round up the cats and take them inside, some of them actually ran inside knowing it was time to take shelter. Sometimes I think they’re smarter than the human beings.”
The home was built in 1851 of 18-inch thick limestone blocks, which Gonzales citing as making it a safe place to shelter during a hurricane. Hemingway lived in the home from 1931 and owned it until his death in 1961.