Strange Travels: Get a Cat with Your Room at Minnesota's Anderson House

If I told you that a friendly female named Ginger could be sent to your room at Anderson House, you might think the establishment was a place of ill repute. But Ginger's just an attention-loving kitty cat who rests in Room 19 along with her feline pals Arnold, Morris, Goblin, and Aloysius until she's requested as a bedwarmer. That's right: at a quaint hotel in the Mississippi River town of Wabasha, Minnesota, guests can have one of five famous cats delivered to their room for the night (along with a litterbox, food, and toys). Anderson House has drawn guests from around the world who've heard about the cats and decided to visit the picturesque main street community of Wabasha, the oldest town in Minnesota and the setting for the famous movie Grumpy Old Men.

A beefed-up bed and breakfast, Anderson House offers guests over 20 rooms and a hearty Midwestern breakfast to boot - all in an historic building that dates back to the pioneer days of 1856, when Minnesota was defined by the mighty Mississippi River. Though Wabasha is full of charming shops, restaurants, and 19th century architecture, Anderson House remains the gem of the downtown. And its cats have become unofficial mascots for the community. To celebrate the hotel's sesquicentennial this year, for instance, specially commissioned cat statues with names like "Sally Straycat" and "Max A. Million" have been placed all over town and at Anderson House itself.

There are five times as many rooms as cats, though, so guests interested in their procuring their own pioneer pussycat need to book early, especially if they want Ginger (the most popular and playful). The idea of getting a cat with your room, while it may seem a little gimmicky, is all part of the honest, almost insistent hospitality that innkeepers Mike and Teresa Smith propagate at their bed and breakfast. In trying to live out the sense of familial welcome inspired by the house's namesake, Grandma Anderson, the current operators not only provide room cats upon request but also roll back the clock by providing everything from warm bricks wrapped in quilts (for warming one's feet) to dutifully shining shoes left outside the room. While the services aren't lavish, there's a down-home, folksy, and sincerely welcoming atmosphere at Anderson House.

If you're planning to visit the touristy town of Wabasha, just a quick 70 miles southeast from the bustling Twin Cities, a stay at Anderson House is a must - whether you want to cuddle with a cat or stay in one of the "no cat" rooms for allergy-afflicted guests. The cats are just one part of the inn, but they're also the trademark: after all, cats are somewhat like Minnesotans: politely friendly and hospitable - but far from intrusive or demanding.

For more details, visit www.historicandersonhouse.com.