There’s an oil painting behind the reception desk at New York’s famed Algonquin Hotel, a portrait of the establishment’s most important resident – his pose and expression both more than a touch regal as he gazes upon guests checking in and out. He has his own Algonquin business card and a staffer dedicated to his every whim, and even his name denotes sophisticated aristocracy: Hamlet. Hamlet VIII, in fact, preceded by a long line of distinguished other special residents of the same name.
And they’re all of the feline variety.
Because the Algonquin, renowned for its historic hosting of literary and acting legends, has been home to resident cats for almost 100 years. According to legend, a stray who became known as Billy wandered into the hotel in the 1920s, followed not long after by a marmalade-colored cat named Rusty who had free reign of the hotel.
Those names didn’t impress legendary actor and frequent guest John Barrymore, who suggested – again, according to Algonquin lore – the Shakespearean moniker of Hamlet. Every male cat since has held that title, while every female has been called Matilda.
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The Algonquin Hotel's Chief Cat Officer, Alice Dealmeida, hugs her feline charge, Hamlet VIII - who was rescued from a feral colony on Long Island, marking a true 'rags to riches' story
Hamlet VIII is affectionately known as Hammy and is a favorite with guests and visitors
The Algonquin, on New York's West 44th Street, is the oldest working hotel in Manhattan
Hamlet presides over the lobby and enjoys two treehouse perches - one at the reception desk and one looking out onto the busy New York street through a window
The Algonquin cats are so popular that they often receive fan mail and unsolicited gifts - such as this oil painting of Hamlet, which hangs behind the reception desk
Dealmeida says: ‘You couldn’t have built a better cat ... I’ve seen two or three kids at him, and he’ll just stand there and he won’t do a thing’
‘We don’t know why there’s a Matilda,’ says Chief Cat Officer Alice Dealmeida, a grandmother and animal lover who doubles as an executive assistant when she’s not mothering ‘Hammy,’ as she fondly calls her feline charge. ‘You know, somebody said “Waltzing Matilda?” That could be it.’
The Bronx native has been in the role at the Algonquin for 14 years, beginning her cat duties with one of the Matildas. She’d been hired as executive assistant and didn’t initially know that the job included feline responsibilities – though that came as a welcome surprise to a woman who currently has three cats at home in addition to ferals she feeds outside.
‘I didn’t know that I was responsible for the cat, and then all of a sudden, I was here a couple of days, and the assistant said to me, “Oh, by the way, you have to answer Matilda’s – because it was Matilda II that was here – you have to answer her emails, you know.”
‘It just made me very happy. So I started with the emails, and then it kind of like exploded.’
Hamlet VIII, for example, has his own social media pages, and he receives a ton of messages and fan mail. He gets cards, presents, even proposals – and fans of the Algonquin cat have sent toys, replicas and even unsolicited oil paintings, such as the one gracing the front lobby. The offerings come from all over the world; for Christmas, for example, he received six tiny mouse toys he loves to bat around – all the way from Australia.
Hammy has his own bed and room near the entrance to the hotel on West 44th street, and the lobby area is outfitted with cat doors to facilitate his easy movement. He also loves to perch upon two specialized cat trees, one at the reception desk and one at the front of the hotel, giving him a street view that most New Yorkers would kill for.
‘Cats need vertical area, so that gives him his vertical,’ Dealmeida says. ‘Also, he can be in the mix but they can’t touch him – and it’s the same out front. He gets to see the sun, he gets to see the action, what’s going on there. So he’s got some places that afford him privacy.’
Hamlet VIII, shrewd and street smart, seems to know that he's the star of the show - and even high-fives some of his fans when he feels like it
The lobby of the Algonquin features a display case with memorabilia and photos of Hamlet VIII's predecessors, who got up to various shenanigans during their respective reigns
Dealmeida says of the specialized treehouses: ‘Cats need vertical area, so that gives him his vertical. Also, he can be in the mix but they can’t touch him – and it’s the same out front. He gets to see the sun, he gets to see the action, what’s going on there. So he’s got some places that afford him privacy’
In addition to his business card and email accounts, Hamlet VIII has social media accounts - which Dealmeida helps him maintain
Visitors and guests can also take home stuffed toys and books featuring Hamlet and Matildas
Hamlet can also retreat to a private room with a bed, his food and scratching post, and his fondness for snacks – or anything edible, really – is making him a bit plumper than Dealmeida would like.
But it wasn’t always this way for the American shorthair ginger. In fact, his journey has been a true ‘rags to riches’ story, his proud ‘mother,’ Dealmeida, explains.
‘Hamlet VIII was a rescue cat,’ she tells DailyMail.com. ‘He actually was a feral cat out in Long Island – and he was found on the streets and brought to a shelter.’
Always in on the action, Hamlet sometimes even dresses up for the holidays to get into the festive spirit
The Algonquin had already put out a call to local shelters looking for a new feline resident; the current Matilda was nearing retirement, soon to head out to a farm of a loyal guest. Hamlet – then named Chill – was a year old when Dealmeida first laid eyes on him, and he had the laid-back personality that makes him a favorite with Algonquin guests.
‘You couldn’t have built a better cat,’ she tells DailyMail.com. ‘Some guy this morning, he’s petting him, and the cat is eating and the cat isn’t even blinking. I’ve seen two or three kids at him, and he’ll just stand there and he won’t do a thing.’
Long-time doormen like to play with strings with Hamlet, and it’s pretty obvious, as the cat sashays across the reception desk and up to his perches, that he knows he’s a bit of a star. He even enjoys regular reiki sessions with a pet therapist.
‘Hamlet has full reign of the Algonquin,’ says Dealmeida. ‘He’s the Algon-king. We used to call Matilda the Algon-queen.’
She adds: ‘People make reservations because of him; he gives the hotel a homey feeling. Kids get all excited … and it’s not like just being in a hotel. It’s more like being home with your favorite things.’
Long-time doormen enjoy playing with Hamlet, bringing him strings and otherwise engaging him in activity; his fondness for treats and anything edible means he needs as much exercise as he can get
Some of Hamlet's favorite toys are fake mice he enjoys batting around; for Christmas, he received a present of six from a loyal fan in Australia
Dealmeida says: 'People make reservations because of him; he gives the hotel a homey feeling. Kids get all excited … and it’s not like just being in a hotel. It’s more like being home with your favorite things’
In addition to merchandise featuring Hamlet's likeness, the hotel hosts an annual cat fashion show fundraiser, with proceeds going to the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals
While Hamlet has a reputation for pleasing children and adult visitors to the Algonquin, he also gets along with animals visiting the pet-friendly hotel, which first opened in 1902
The cat enjoys personalized touches throughout the hotel, though his domain is confined mostly to the lobby
The lobby includes a display section of Hamlet and Matilda memorabilia, including old photos of his predecessors. There’s even an Algonquin cat children’s book and stuffed toy that guests and visitors can take home – and there’s no shortage of stories about the shenanigans the cats have pulled over the years.
‘There are legends all over,’ laughs Dealmeida. ‘We do know that there’s one cat that got in a cab. There’s one cat – this area, before it was built up, there were stables here – and he fell in love with a barn cat and went after the barn cat. Matilda I used to like to take the food off of guests’ plates, so you had to be really careful what you did. Matilda III figured out the general manager didn’t like her on the sofa, but she figured out if she was sitting next to a guest, he couldn’t shoo her off.
‘Matilda II actually meowed into a microphone when we were doing a radio interview … They’re all just so full of personality, and each one has their own little antics.’
The hotel capitalizes upon those antics and personalities to raise awareness and money for animals in need.
‘In order to keep Hamlet in kibble, and to give back – because we believe that rescue should be the only option – we have a yearly fundraiser for the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals,’ Dealmeida tells DailyiMail.com. ‘They’re wonderful; they encompass 150 shelters throughout the five boroughs, and every August Hamlet honors them with a fundraiser – and for the price of admission, you get alcohol, hors d’oeuvres, a feline fashion show … an online silent auction, raffles, cat adoption out front.
‘And 100 percent of the profits go to the Mayor’s Alliance.’
It’s an event – and a job – which Dealmeida clearly relishes, doting on Hammy and giving the shrewd cat high-fives.
‘I love being the chief cat officer; it’s like a dream come true,’ she says. ‘Nobody would even ever imagine that it could be possible. I like the other part of my job, too, but it’s just not as furry as the chief cat officer part.’
In addition to his treats, treehouses and other perks, Hamlet VIII enjoys reiki sessions with a pet therapist who comes to the hotel
When Hamlet VIII was first rescued and brought to a shelter, he was named Chill for his laidback personality - which is evident to anyone who walks through the Algonquin
Previous Matildas also featured in their own personalized book; the most recent Matilda, who retired when Hamlet VIII turned up, went to live on the farm of a loyal guest
Hamlet VIII provides a great source of amusement not only for guests but for hotel employees
While the Algonquin is a famed haunt of writers and actors, the presence of its cats over the years has been an added attraction
Cat doors near the entrance of the hotel allow Hamlet VIII to scoot from a room featuring his food and water, bed and scratch post to his treehouses and the reception area
Passersby can often catch a glimpse of Hamlet VIII in the hotel window as he sits in one of his treehouses and surveys the bustling city
In addition to the oil painting proudly displayed behind reception, other artwork has been sent to the hotel featuring Hamlets and Matildas, such as this painting in an Algonquin office
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https://hienalouca.com/2019/01/12/meet-hamlet-viii-the-famed-feline-resident-of-new-yorks-storied-algonquin-hotel/
Main photo article There’s an oil painting behind the reception desk at New York’s famed Algonquin Hotel, a portrait of the establishment’s most important resident – his pose and expression both more than a touch regal as he gazes upon guests checking in and out. He has his own Algonquin business card and a staffer...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/01/10/22/8378184-0-image-m-51_1547159617523.jpg
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