The Hatching Cat of Gotham

The Hatching Cat of Gotham

For Media and Book Inquires:
hatchingcat@gmail.com

Ever since I started writing about cats and other animals of Old New York, many people have asked me why I call my website The Hatching Cat. I chose this name because my project began in 2002, just after I had discovered the story of the French Hatching Cat in the book “Palisades Amusement Park: A Century of Fond Memories,” by Vince Gargiulo.

I originally intended to write a children’s book about the French Hatching Cat, but as I started to dig into the history of Palisades Park, I realized that this was more than a children’s story. Writing and telling the story was a really fun way to learn and share the history of New York. From that point on, I’ve been on a never-ending quest for animal tales in New York City history from the 1800s to the 1940s.

Many of these animal tales are amazing, some are curiously odd or absurdly humorous, and others fall under the file called “You just can’t make this stuff up.” My favorite stories, though, are the ones that make people say, “Wow, who knew!?”

Every story on this site has two things in common: They each feature one animal or more and they are each woven with interesting historical facts about the people, places, and events of Old New York. Most of these animal stories originate in the archives of The New York Times, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, and other New York newspapers, although I also get tips on potential stories from my readers.

The Cat Men of Gotham
The Bravest Pets of Gotham

In 2019, I published my first book based on some of my favorite cat stories of Old New York. In August 2020, The Cat Men of Gotham: Tales of Feline Friendships in Old New York, won a 2019 Muse Medallion from the Cat Writers’ Association.

My second book, The Bravest Pets of Gotham: Tales of Four-Legged Firefighters of Old New York (Rutgers University Press), was published in September 2024.

This book features more than 100 stories about the fire horses, dogs, cats, and other FDNY animal mascots from the late 1800s through the 1940s. Some of the stories feature “Historical Hooks,” which explore the history of fire hydrants, fire escapes, fire poles, buffs, chaplains, and much more.

Cats About Town Walking Tours for
Cat Lovers

In the fall of 2024, I partnered with Dan Rimada of Bodega Cats of New York to create walking tours for cat lovers. The tours take place several times a month (except in winter) in Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn Heights. Click here for more information or to book a tour.

About Me

I started my career as a magazine editor and freelance news reporter after graduating from Syracuse University with a degree in magazine journalism. I spent about 15 years in children’s book publishing as an editor for Troll Books and Scholastic Book Clubs, and then worked as a marketing writer for a large pharmacy benefit manager.

In 2012, I received a Master of Science in Health Communications from Boston University. I currently work as a senior medical editor in pharmaceutical advertising.

Outside of work, I have 30 years of service as a volunteer with the Warwick Fire Department. And recently I joined the inaugural steering committee of the future Cat Museum of New York City. In this role, I will be serving as an ambassador for the museum, providing advice and guidance on museum planning and attending various events. The mission of the museum is to support the work of cat rescuers, no-kill cat shelters, cat nonprofit organizations, and the local community of cats and the humans who care for them.

My husband and I have three cats, and we both love animals, New York City, the Yankees, kayaking, swimming, and traveling.

I hope The Hatching Cat will make history fun for everyone–come back often and enjoy! And be sure to follow me on Twitter and Facebook. Also feel free to contact me at hatchingcat@gmail.com if you have any questions or tips about old animal stories.