Meet Matilda III, The Algonquin Hotel's Newest Mascot

By 1010 WINS' Susan Richard

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A tradition continues in Midtown.

The Algonquin Hotel has been home to a feline mascot since 1932, when a stray wandered into the hotel, and then-owner Frank Case gave him the run of the place. Since then, the legendary Manhattan establishment has had ten cats, all named either Hamlet or Matilda. The story goes that actor John Barrymore, who was among the theater and literary elite to frequent the hotel, named the first cat Hamlet. Where the name Matilda came from is a mystery to this day.

1010 WINS' Susan Richard Reports

And now a new "Algonquin Cat" is now holding court.

See Also: NYC's Notorious Hotels | Best Hotel Bars In The Big Apple

Like her predecessor, her name is Matilda III. As for Matilda II, she retired to a "nice pre-war building in Brooklyn," according to the Algonquin's Alice De Almeida.

The new Algonquin Cat is a rescue from North Shore Animal League America, who was left there abandoned in a box. She's a purebred Ragdoll, who's been dubbed the "Algonqueen" and is being said to "fit right in," according to De Almeida.

Matilda arrived last December but made her official debut last Wednesday at a party, a pet adoption event and fundraiser to benefit the North Shore Animal League. Also on hand were cats from the Westchester Cat Show, who took part in a kitty fashion show that you've gotta see to believe.

1010 WINS' Susan Richard captured all the fun in the latest edition of "All For Animals."

The All For Animals program is a production of New Day Media and is placed on CBSNewYork.com as a courtesy.  Learn more at allforanimals.tv.