After a five-month absence, Matilda the cat has reclaimed her rightful title as Directfurr of Guest Relations at The Algonquin Hotel in New York City. The hotel, which has hosted ten resident felines since 1932, shuttered its doors on Jan. 1 for an $18 million renovation.
The cat's road back to the hotel has not been an easy one. Controversy erupted in November when a complaint to the New York City Department of Health yielded new regulations against the 4-year-old Ragdoll, who formerly had a full run of the fancy lobby. She was reportedly leashed behind the front desk for a day, before being fitted with a vibrating collar to keep her out of food-related areas. Word has it that the Algonqueen isn't too happy with the new arrangement, but hotel staffers, including her executive assistant, Alice de Almeida, are confident that she will adjust.
Matilda, who has lived at the historic hotel since being rescued from the North Shore Animal League in 2010, spent her well-deserved time off in Queens with de Almeida, her husband, and their three cats, Spitz, Buffy and Skipper. The diva didn't exactly get along with her feline housemates, although de Almeida tells The Post, "But she was given the best room in the house. It overlooked the garden.”
Shared at Cat Wisdom 101. I'll be visiting Matilda soon in purrson.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see u back.
ReplyDeleteIf people were so worried about the cat they should have stayed else where. She should have free run as always.
ReplyDelete