Although this Key West news is not recent, you’re sure to find it interesting. Sometime in 2003, the US Department of Agriculture and the Hemingway’s Museum got into a legal dispute over feline management on the museum ground. Simply put, descendants of Snowball, Hemingway’s six-toed cat, are left to their own free will on the museum property.

A few escape artists left the ground. One cat of particular interest, Ivan, was the reason the complaint started. “Ivan is a very unneutered, very macho male cat, and in each case, he had one of the street cats pinned down,” Debbie Schultz, former animal shelter official says. “We have an ordinance that says a nuisance cat can be removed.” Ivan was sent to the shelter several times and each time the museum bailed out the lucky tomcat.

The USDA wanted the cats confined to the grounds. Alternatives included adding electric wire, building up the property wall, or hiring a night watchman (to watch 50-60 cats?? Good luck to that.)

The museum countered. Hemingway House in Key West is a National Historic Place. High walls or an electric fence will put at risk its looks and historic designation. Besides, an electric fence is a danger to both cats and tourists. By the way, the museum made a point that many of the tourists are, in fact, here to see the cats.

With so many kitties abound on the property; the USDA claimed that the Museum is an “exhibitor” of cats, meaning that it will have to comply with the Animal Welfare Act. It needs a license to keep the cats.

The museum countered. The Animal Welfare Act sets the care standards for animals in zoos and circuses. For over 40 years, Hemingway’s cats have been born and raised in Key West. Never sold or distributed. And, of course, do not perform circus acts!!

If the USDA had its way, the cats may be confiscated and the museum fined. At one point, the cats were put under surveillance camera. USDA noted, “During the inspection, a cat was seen scaling the fence and leaving the property.”

The museum took the USDA to court to end it once and for all. The Judge ruled that both sides should reach an agreement.

As of July 2007, the museum has its way. Key West City Commission backed the museum. The museum is not considered an exhibitor and is also exempted from local law that allows maximum of 4 domestic animals per household.

Both sides meant well. The USDA were concerned that the cats were not properly cared for. The museum wanted to continue the line of the famous 6-toed Snowball. If you are thinking, “Oh, this means they don’t spay or neuter the cats?” Well, don’t worry, they do. For some cats, of course. According to the museum, “The vast majority are spayed (female) or neutered (male). There are a couple of females and a few males who are not fixed because we like to have one or two litters of kittens per year. This ensures that we’ll continue to have descendants of the Hemingway cat line to replace the few cats who die each year due to illness, old age, or accidents, but keeps the number of cats at about sixty residents.”

And if you are curious as to what Mr. Ivan, the troublemaker looks like. Here’s his picture as a kitten:

Ivan and Frances

If you’d like to see this 6-toe cat and his relatives, here’s more pictures at Hemingway House website >>