by Diana Waldhuber

The first thing I saw as I approached the Algonquin Hotel yesterday was someone walking down the street with a cardboard animal carrier – a sure sign of a successful adoption from the wonderful people from North Shore Animal League America.

North Shore had a mobile adoption site (cats and dogs for those non-cat people out there) outside the hotel, and they were also dedicated to bringing awareness of the need for more no-kill shelters. They had a successful day and were able to educate many people. Great job guys.

Inside the hotel was where the fun and glamour really began.

The Algonquin Hotel is a throwback to a more glamorous and glittery era and once you step inside, you never really want to leave (after all, it was the place where the likes of Dorothy Parker and John Barrymore used to hang out on a regular basis), and the staff are the kind of people other institutions would kill to get their hands on!

But we weren’t there to bask in purrfect service and glamorous surroundings (well, not completely, anyway…), we were there for a special event, a birthday bash for Matilda, the Algonquin’s resident cat.

The Algonquin is a very pet friendly hotel, and they’ve had a resident cat since the 30s, when a bedraggled cat (soon to be named Hamlet by Barrymore) was rescued from the streets by the pet-loving owner.

And, boy, does that hotel know how to throw a party!

Last year there was a choir singing a cattaleuha (in meow, of course) to Matilda. We didn’t have that this year, but that was okay, because what we had was very special indeed.

The star of the upcoming (and much anticipated) Animal Planet show, Must Love Cats, was there, and he was as personable and as charming as could be (there seemed to be a few hearts purring for him…).

John Fulton not only spoke about the importance of no-kill shelters, and of the great work such institutions were doing, not only did he emcee the cat fashion show, but he got out his guitar and sang some songs, especially written for the resident ragdoll, and also led the crowd in a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday.

The mewdels in their swanky Meow Wear costumes were purrfectly behaved and they even deigned to come out wearing nothing but birthday hats in honour of the glamorous and shiny Matilda (who sat patiently in her little house…until, near the end of the evening, had enough and trounced off as any cat of merit will do…).

There was delicious cake, even more delicious purrtinis, an auction of a commissioned pawtrait of Matilda (by local artist Jenny Belin who specialises in pet portraiture), and best of all, all proceeds went to the North Shore Animal League.

We discovered some amazing products (we’ll be sharing with you) and are hoping to bring you, in the coming months, some exclusive behind the scenes looks and sneak insights into catabulous Must Love Cats (from the morsels we overheard about the show, it’s going to be an absolute must see!).

So stay tuned, and we’ll be talking with you soon.

ps: hopefully once the camera technical difficulties are overcome, we’ll post some pictures of the evening here.