Posted on 01/03/2011 6:17:51 AM PST by marthemaria
St Petersburg's famous museum, known for the world's most admired art collection, is also home to some surprising residents
The splendid and revered Hermitage Gallery is a must-see for any tourist visiting St Petersburg.
Once the home of Catherine the Great the mueum has always been home to a great number of cats.
A lesser known fact about the museum's astonishing history is that felines have inhabited the cosy cellars for centuries - surviving Tsars and Communists.
Initially they were brought in to protect the masterpieces from being ravaged by vermin.
But now with poison to do that job the cats have a rather more relaxed lifestyle, safely removed from the cold and often hazardous city life.
If it was not for the hermitage the 50 cats would be on the street and in consistently sub-zero temperatures, inhabiting your own palace is certainly the preferred choice.
One cat was found by builders, badly injured and starving in the freezing cold.
He now sits majestically in his throne-like bed, answering to the name Viscount.
Tatiana Danilova leads a group of devotees whose job it is to ensure the moggies are kept in the lap of luxury.
She insists they have no favourites: "When a cat gets sick, especially seriously sick, it becomes the most loved by us.
"I think this is in our Russian nature - we love those who are unhappy more."
In a country not necessarily renowned for its animal welfare the feline's fates are entirely reliant on charitable donations.
The cats may be forbidden from the actual gallery but there is a clear sense that their histories and futures will always intertwine.
(Excerpt) Read more at uk.news.yahoo.com ...
>>I know what you mean about missing your cat. We had to put down our 17 year old cat yesterday:-(<<
Oh, my sympathies! :( I had to let mine go after nearly 25 years (half my adult life!).
That “Rainbow Bridge” story always comes to mind... when I go to heaven and she isn’t there, then I don’t want to go. God, in His eternal wisdom can certainly reunite us. And, yes, pets have souls — they just don’t need saving like us flawed Humans.
Sorry to be a downer — this is actually a pretty fun topic and, as I said, it is always great when a cat slips into his/her Rightful Place.
Some classics:
Dogs have masters, Cats have staff.
Dogs: “You feed me, you look after me, you give me all the love I need! You must be God!”
Cats: “You feed me, you look after me, you give me all the love I need! I must be God!”
:)
That is VERY cool!!
Guard kittehs watchin’ ur aurt.
“Now aren’t you sorry that you had me neutered?”
I thought the Hermitage was great... I was just sorry I only had one day in there. They have SO much art packed into a relatively small building it’s amazing. I don’t remember any cats though... but it was still Lenningrad back when I was there.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.