10/30/2009 10:43:00 AM Famous feline Flea a hit with tourists
Purrfect pals: Four-year-old Bailey Boyd frequently visits Flea to check on her “little furry friend”.
What fans say about Flea on his website
• One lady from Chelmsford writes:
"I too have seen Flea every time I have gone down to Bermuda. I don't feel like my trip is complete if I don't see him. I hope that he is going to be okay during the hurricane. When were there on the week of July 4 he was hanging out in the Island Shop and had just gotten out of the hospital. He looked pretty good though. He is just the cutest little cat. I love going to see him when we are there."
• Another lady from Rochester commented in August:
"We just returned from Bermuda last week and met Flea sleeping in his bed on the counter at one of the shops in St George's. He was so cute, we went back the next day to visit and take pictures. The owner of the shop assured us he would be tucked away safely until hurricane Bill passed. He was recovering from being in the hospital, but she said he was doing well."
• A Lake City resident writes: "I went out to St. George today just to see him. I almost missed him. I got to St. George at almost 6pm. By this time all the shops have closed. The lady that runs the Island shop just happened to come by to let him out when I was about to leave."
• A Chicago woman asks:"Do you have a pic of Flea in his little bed at one of the shops? Please share- I imagine we'd all love to see that!"
"Have you seen Flea the cat?" Shop owners around the town of St. George's are hearing this question more and more often from tourists intent on meeting the cattiest "celebrity" in town.
He has his own website, receives postcards from fans overseas and takes advantage of photo ops with flurries of excited tourists.
"He is so well liked among the tourists," said Belinda Tartaglia who runs her own gallery on Water Street. "He has repeat guests that stay at the St. George's Club and go looking for him.
"One of the cruise ships actually tells their passengers about Flea so they can look for him."
Flea spends his days between Ms Tartaglia's art gallery, Vera P. Cards and the Island Shop where he sleeps curled up warmly in a little basket.
On sticky summer evenings you can often spot him watching the fish from the safety of the local glass-bottom boat.
"He's the official town cat," Ms Tartaglia added. "He has us all wrapped around his little paw. I tell the tourists he should be the next mayor."
The six-year-old orange and white cat is also a big hit among local children, who can be seen searching for Flea after school and on weekends.
Four-year-old Bailey Boyd is one of them and visits Flea with her mom whenever she has a spare moment.
"I like Flea," Bailey said as she stroked his head. "He's a happy cat and feels really soft."
Flea enjoys the finest local cuisine in town - including delicacies from Café Gio, the Supermarket and Tavern by the Sea.
But life hasn't always been so upscale for the cat who began life starved and "eaten alive by fleas" (hence the name) up at the old Club Med.
Flea's owner, Suzanne Hollis, found him clinging to life when he was barely a week old.
"We had friends visiting Bermuda who had sailed in and found two little kittens when they were exploring over where the old Club Med used to be," Ms Hollis explained. "Although one didn't make it, we managed to nurse one of them back to health - that was Flea!
"He was so small he used to fit in the palm of my hand!"
About four years ago Flea moved out of his home with the Hollis' after they brought home a rescue dog from the SPCA.
Although Flea no longer lives with Ms Hollis, he returns if he is feeling poorly.
Ms Hollis describes her pet as "street smart" and "independent," despite the fact he has wound up in various spots across the island after hopping into people's cars before they drive away from St. George's.
Ms Hollis added: "When we bring him back to St. George's he is so excited to be home - back on his turf."
She hopes to write a children's book about Flea in the near future.
People are constantly posting their sightings of Flea, along with photos of the celebrity cat, on his own online forum which can be found on the Trip Advisor website.
There are almost 30 postings since it began in July of this year.
To view Flea's online page, go to: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g147255-i208-k2925421-Flea_resident_orange_cat_have_you_seen_him-Bermuda.html
Reader Comments
Posted: Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Comment by:
Bobbie Petrini
Wow, I can't believe I am reading this article today. I met flea back in September of 2006 while I was on a cruise to Bermuda. I used to buy cans of cat food at the market nearby and feed him because I thought he didn't have a home. Being the animal lover I am, I felt aweful leaving him thinking he was homeless. I am so thrilled to be reading about him.
Posted: Monday, November 02, 2009
Comment by:
Cayley Doull
Hi we had the honour of flea's company at my Grannys house on the water front in St Georges. We were on holiday there and he visited us every day great to see he is still strutting his stuff!!!
Posted: Friday, October 30, 2009
Comment by:
James Rego
What a wonderful story about "Flea" and the folks who take the time to cater to his needs. Surely there are more people in Bermuda with "Flea" stories, this is just delightful. Lets have more. Please!
Posted: Friday, October 30, 2009
Comment by:
Jay & Gaye Kerr
Great article! Glad to see Flea is getting the exposure he deserves!
I respond on Trip advisor to Flea's page as "sunsetkat" with "Flea" as my pic!
We can't wait to see him and Theresa again!
Thanks for such a wonderful article! :)
