Penelope Kitten talked to one over a CB radio last night. …
Middle of the night. Sunday. Hurricane Irma.
Penelope Kitten is working at the kitchen table.
She is manning cell phones, the internet, and an old CB radio (aka Cat Box) trying to keep in touch with the 54 six-toed cats at the Hemingway House as they weather out the storm.
Marcy and Cynthia check on her at 3am PST as the apartment becomes abuzz with beeps and static.
penelope kitten (squeaking): breaker. breaker. one- niner. this is pkitty from shakeytown. anyone got their ears on down there in the bikini state?
CB Voice: Affirmative.
penelope kitten: what’s your handle?
Frank Sinatra Cat: This here is Scurvy McGurvy.
penelope kitten: what’s your 20, good buddy?
Frank Sinatra/Scurvy McGurvy: Well hell, we’re doin’ a-ok here at the Hemingway House. We still got a Flag In A Five Mile Wind gusts and we’re all Checking Our Eyelids For Pinholes on account of no sleep but we’re all 3’s and 8’s for our little island paradise.
penelope kitten: 10-4. copy that.
Cynthia (yawning anxiously): So how’s it going, P? Cats ok?
penelope kitten: excellent. all 54 hemingway cats and their 10 caregivers are safe and sound. they were safe in their house made of 18 inches of limestone. plus, the limestone remained cool so it’s like they have a built in air conditioner. no power but they’ve got a few generators and lots of medicine and food. however, key west is still closed pending structural assessment of the bridges and power lines.
but, it’s back to business and each cat has all their 9 lives still intact.
Cynthia (relieved): Wonderful! We were so worried!
Marcy and Cynthia pad off back to bed.
Marcy: Us too. The Hemingway cats are integral to our mission of taking over the world.
Cynthia: Oh yeah?
Marcy: Yeah. Those Key West cats are frustratingly eccentric and opinionated. But, I gotta paw it to them – they’re scrappy.
More noises, beeps, and static from the kitchen.
penelope kitten (squeaking): breaker. breaker. one-niner…
=^..^=
*Check out the Hemingway Cats fascinating story at HemingwayHome.com!
12 Comments
Penelope, where did you learn CB lingo? Google Translate? And how did they herd those kitties inside? When I was there forty years ago the cats were roaming outside. What a challenge…emptying litter boxes for 50-plus storm-stressed cats.
Such a relief they are safe and sound. I wouldn’t mind being a Hemingway cat. Key West is one of the niftiest places ever.
According to the caretakers, they had no problem getting the cats to come inside since they are sensitive to the barometric pressure dropping. Cats are so sensitive. lol
xo and meow,
cynthia + marcy
I’m so happy to hear they’re all okay!!! They look so cute with those extra toes. This is making me want a house built out of thick limestone 🙂
Us too!
xo and meow,
cynthia + marcy
Yes! Love those Hemy Cats! Thanks for the update:)
u got it!
squeak, penelope kitten
thank GOD!! I had heard they were safe, but I was concerned when I heard that water was turned off there? I am assuming they have some, THANK GOD they are ok!!
From what I understand, they have enough supplies to get them through. Plus, since they are Floridians – they know to stock water for drinking! Also, I’m sure they filled up bathtubs and buckets to use to flush toilets. I also imagine if they did start running out lots and lots of people would make sure they got stuff airlifted in! Yay!!! 🙂
xo,cynthia
So, I never heard of these guys before. The most famous cats I know are…Marcy and PK.
We’re looking to get our names in stars on Hollywood Blvd. It costs about $10,000 though so we may need to start a Go Fund Me campaign or something.
meow,
marcy
I hoped you would cover this! I heard about the concern for the Hemingway House caretaker and cats on an NPR radio interview with a correspondent in Key West. We actually visited a few years ago, and it was one of my favorite parts of Key West. So glad all is well at the Hemingway House at least. And thank you again for your post on ways to help the animals in Houston. I’ve been sharing your post with all our family and friends, and everyone appreciated your comprehensive roundup of aid organizations.
Liz
http://www.withwonderandwhimsy.com
Oh wonderful!! Thank you!
xo,cynthia