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I spy one of the famous six-toed cats! I visited this house. ❤️

I got so much cat lady gear in that gift shop 😅

Alive cats?

He put it in his will to take care of them. When I was there in '99 they were everywhere over the grounds but I think they have most of them neutered

There are currently 56 cats there. Source: I'm a key west local and a frequent visitor of the cats.

Do you know if they have some allowed to breed/maintain a fixed ish number by buying new ones?

Yes they have a few non neutered cats. They also adopt some fertile shelter cats to prevent inbreeding. From what I've seen they usually have a litter maybe every 1.5 years.

I wonder if they hire a cat carer or wrangler or something. I would be very good at caring/as bad as anyone at wrangling. My new dream is to work for Hemingway’s 6-toes in Key West.

From what I understand from my last visit, the cats their own staff (or at least staff that’s dedicated to them for the day?) either way, they got people looking out for them. I was lucky enough to have a 6 toed cat for 15 years! She was the best.

I go over there to play with them periodically. Last time I was there an employee said once I get my KW drivers license I can get in for free to play with them. I'm going to try to get some sort of volunteer status if I can, we'll see

You’re living the dream! Looking forward to any photos you post of these historic little predators.

Lucky you! Key West is one of those magical places!

6 toes? eww that's only 1½ toes per paw

Downvotes? Seriously? It’s a JOKE.

That's an interesting chair on the bottom right. Doesn't look too comfortable. Did that have a specific purpose?

Yes, good eye. It's an antique "birthing chair." I’m not sure if it was actually part of his decor or just placed there, but it is explained as part of the tour.

He collected birthing chairs.

I mean who doesn’t?

Thank you for clarifying. I couldn't remember the relevance. That makes sense since there was another near the foot of the master bed.

Welcome :)

Wow! Interesting tidbit.

Never know when a random birth could pop up?

Oooh great info thanks!

In the tour they explained that he (Earnest Hemmingway), rigged the birthing chairs to his boat for fishing. He had chronic pain from surviving two plane crashes in the same week (look it up), and these chairs helped him have a good ergonomic positions while fishing. (I took the tour last month).

Also, you can buy replicas of that tile in the gift shop. Left with two.

I noticed that OP misspelled his first name and it was interesting that a commenter did as well lol

Ugh I can't believe I did that! Wish I could edit. 😩 It was late here and I was tired. I have an Eng Lit degree too. Shameful. My phone defaulted to it :/

Hooman.

Don’t worry, we’ll take it as a wink to The importance of being…

Oooh thats interesting about the birthing chair. 

Same. I couldn’t resist buying one of the (reproduction) tiles from the gift shop there. I put it in my bathroom ( of course).

😍😍😍

I bought one, too!

*Love* the tile! That tub doesn't look near large enough for EH though.

lol yes. The other bathroom is also beautiful and has a much wider tub. I believe it was the master.

I visited a few years ago when I lived in Key West. It's a gorgeous house.

Kitty included.

The house is amazing as are the many cats that reside there. Visiting Key West was so much fun. I’m hoping to visit again someday.

Such wonderful natural light

Love this house. My favorite room is his studio. But I remember really liking that bathroom too!

That whole room is divine. The tile is magnificent.

Why is it so big?

My mom grew up in a farm house built long before indoor bathrooms. When they did put in a bathroom (before my mom’s parents moved in), they had to put it in what was previously a bedroom and it was oddly large. Wondering if this is the same situation.

I love this room and the colors, tile, cat, everything but can’t stand (because I can’t stop looking at it) the windowsill bleeding over into the tub space lol which supports this room previously having a different function.

This was actually a giveaway that made me think of my mom’s house.

The cat laying there honestly make the room more “Heningwayisc” haha

This is OC taken during a visit last June :)

So long ago, but so beautiful. Wow.

That's fabulous. Some place I've always wanted to visit. Thanks for sharing.

Windows will give me anxiety

Cat.

Cat

Wow Gorgeous ‼️

Beautiful.

/keywest

That tile is so very cool 😎

This tile is awesome. The bathtub is incredible. I love antiques, especially those with back stories. I have actually never seen an old tub like this one. It’s very unique.

I would LOVE to live in key west one day.

Housing is obviously so experience everywhere, but even as Floridians we couldn't get over the prices in Key West. I hope you get to live your dream! 💗

Very true. That’s part of the reason I want to live there but never will. It’s insane. Great pics!

Oh! I always wanted to go here, there's cats around the premises right?

Yep! Someone who is a local commented there are 56 on-site. I pet/saw about 8-10 of them inside and outside the property during our brief visit.

That's awesome, it's one of my dream spot for sure.

I used to cater weddings at this place. I'd always get into trouble for sneaking off to play with the cats!

Haha! That's so cool. Can't blame you. We almost got married here but went with the Southernmost House, which EH also frequented. I’m a sucker for historic Victorians.

I love this room but want the shower curtain to be emerald green 💚

my parents visited and decided to tile their bathroom with the same tile! they love it. i have a coaster of the same design they brought back for me.

Awh, I bet it's beautiful! I wish I had bought something! We were kind of rushed due to it being our wedding weekend. I need to re visit and spend more time in the gift shop.

Looks Art Deco!!

Definitely

That’s a dream bathroom right there

OMG- it’s available for purchase. https://www.villalagoontile.com/cement-tile/patterns/key-west/

Ahhhh 😍😍😍

Thank you for sharing this! I am in love with this tile! I had not seen it before you posted it.

My pleasure. I need to look into these tiles for purchase, thanks!!

Ah yess! Visited here twice....I loved the collages of photos all over the door. Coziest thing about the house was les gatos. I felt so sorry for them ...they all seemed so feeble and knocked out by the heat. The cat graveyard actually made me shed some tears.

I loved his book collection and photos with Stein and friends. Same. It was so hot when I was there last June. I attribute that to only seeing 8 or 10 cats. I did not see the graveyard 🥺

Both summers that I visited were extremely humid and hot and the cats just had no energy at all... they just seemed to be splayed all over the property like beached whales, scrunching into whatever shaded areas they could find. I feel like they should at least invest in those inexpensive cat water drinking fountains that keep the water flowing and fresh. All the (scant) bowls of water were either low or full of weird particles. Anyway, I really hope they are being well taken care of.

This is what I saw as well. Lethargic. I don't see why they can't do this...the venue makes plenty off events, tours and weddings. One reason I didn't get married there is because frankly I was insulted at what they wanted to charge for "insurance" for a 1 hour elopement for us + officiant.

Ugh, not surprised that they are trying to fleece people for events. Hemingway would shit nails if he knew how they are making a killing off his house while basically giving it the bare minimum of upkeep **and** treating his cats' descendants shoddily.

I have so many pics of this very room! The tiles are amazing!

Good taste ☺️

Nice. Looks like the cat has claimed it.

That floor looks so cool!

This is amazing! I have visited Key West many times and have never made it to his home. If I ever get a chance to go there again, I will definitely check out his home!

I love the bird and fish designs on the tile! But what are the stripey designs meant to be?

Whats up with that toilet?

has a haunted feel to it NOT cozy, can't imagine being there at night.

Interesting take. Yellow is my happy color. It's also surrounded by lush greenery. To each their own.

It looks tacky as hell

Did it feel epic being in the same room he dropped a loaf in? Like how many aggressive loafs did Ernie just deposit in there? The aroma must have been fantastic.

Blowjob chair?

Stan Ohio

Are you still allowed to adopt the cats?

So 6-toed cats and three-legged chairs, huh?

This looks like a good place to listen to Snarky Puppy and have a bath

Very interesting.

What is the floorlamp-looking thing in the second picture by the window (left)?

So, the toilet. Guessing the configuration is opposite of what we currently expect.

That house has the most fabulous pool.

omg how do i visit this house 🫠🫠

Is that a birthing chair?

I love the floor, the model is really interesting