Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Matilda The Cat Leaves The Algonquin... But Only For Four Months
By
Jen Carlson
Published Dec 29, 2011
Modified Dec 29, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Dec 29, 2011
Modified Dec 29, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
When Matilda the Algonquin Hotel cat updated her Facebook this week saying, "Getting my suitcases down and gathering up my toys—travel time is almost here," we worried that Mayor Bloomberg was booting her from the hotel, following some troubles with the Department of Health. Then Matilda added, "They think I don't know—but am being taken to the vet today for my travel check up—then to the passport office (ooops—am I telling you too much?)" When we tried to contact her via email, we got an out of office reply, saying, "Happy Holidays FURiends. Matilda." So, finally, we made the call.
This morning, we reached Matilda by phone (okay, we reached a very nice woman who told us she had Matilda on her lap, by phone), and asked where she was going and if the move was permanent. Good news: Matilda is only going away while the hotel undergoes renovations for four months starting in January, and she's not venturing too far. She'll be exploring a different borough, however: Queens (to stay with the hotel's chief cat officer, Alice de Almeida). Following that, she'll return, and following that she'll be strutting her stuff at her annual Cat Fashion Show in August.
Tagged
algonquin hotel
cat
matilda
vacation
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
Spoiler alert: It's still 26.2 miles.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 2:36 p.m. ET
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
"Kelly Clarkson has put us in danger," says the co-owner of Art of Play.
By
Sonia Rao
Arts & Entertainment
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
"Kelly Clarkson has put us in danger," says the co-owner of Art of Play.
By
Sonia Rao
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?
By
James Ramsay
What happens when NYC kids take lessons in rock music? Really good bands.
By
Jayson Greene
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .