Key West, Florida: Six-Toed Cats of Ernest Hemingway

I really enjoyed seeing the house and hearing the story of how Pauline, Hemingway's second wife, tore down his boxing ring and built the only swimming pool within 100 miles while he was away. When he returned he became so angry that he took a penny out of his pocket and threw it down, saying, "You have succeeded in spending my last red cent!" She had it embedded in the pool patio.

My son and I stopped by the property to visit the six-toed cats, which have the run of the house during the day. Fun history -- his second wife spent "His Last Penny!" building a swimming pool; the penny is set into the ground by the pool.

At the entrance a small sign warns: "No alcoholic beverages or coconuts."

They are up to 52 six-toed cats, all named famous people's names. This cat is named Harry Truman. Look for the Cat Cemetery at the back of the house.

My wife and I didn't even go inside the house. We enjoyed walking the grounds and seeing all the six-toed cats. Definitely worth the trip.

At Hemingway's home/museum in Key West, there is a drinking fountain he installed for his cats. It's a urinal Hemingway took from a restaurant in town when they were undergoing renovation. His wife at the time hated it, so she purchased an Italian vase to put on top of it to make it look less like a urinal and more like a fountain.

Take the guided tour to learn more about the quirky and odd stories of this family!