3 Little-known cat-themed stops in Connecticut include a Railway Station Cat, a Museum Cat, and a unique café featuring lots of cat art.

As Paws continues our series on cat tourism and events, our research led us to some places that were not on our cat-themed radar. We discovered:

• Turbo – The Naugatuck Railroad Shop Cat at the Connecticut Railroad Shop

• Eddie, the museum cat at the Torrington Historical Society

• Two Wrasslin’ Cats Coffee House, a specialty coffee spot and cafe in East Haddam that’s obsessed with cats

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TurbTurbo- The Naugatuck Railroad Shop Cat

Turbo- The Naugatuck Railroad Shop Cat may not be as famous as Japan’s Tara and Kishi Stationmaster Cats, but Turbo is a legend in his own right. So why is he one of the little-known cat-themed stops in Connecticut?

As the feline proprietor of the Railroad Museum of New England. He even has his own Facebook Page.

This Connecticut Railroad Museum of New England is a place for the cat-obsessed. While the museum is a great place to see restored trains and rail cars, you will also find Turbo watching over the trains as he peruses the visitors, especially for food. He is known to swipe a few bites from an unknowing visitor who doesn’t realize his love for food, especially sandwiches, his favorite.

If you sign up for a museum tour, you will be greeted by Turbo, the Railroad Cat. So that is a great way to be sure you get your big dose of cat at the museum.

What you need to know:

Address: 242 E Main St,  Thomaston, CT 06787

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/NAUGTurbo/https://www.facebook.com/NAUGTurbo/

Website: http://www.rmne.org/

Tickets: available online through the online ticketing system, or at the Thomaston Station ticket counter the day of the train on a first-come/first-served basis. For more popular trains, tickets may not be available the day of the event, so purchasing online in advance is encouraged. Major credit cards are accepted, both online and at the station.

Where do we board?

All of our trains leave from the Historic Thomaston Station, 242 East Main Street, Thomaston Connecticut. Directions to the station can be found on our Directions page.

Little-known-cat-themed-stops-in-connecticut, Eddie, The Torrington Historical Society’s Museum Cat

The Torrington Historical Society preserves and operates several museums including the Hotchkiss-Fyler estate, a beautiful Victorian-era mansion.

This historic site is home to Eddie the museum cat, who not only greets guests on the grounds but escorts them to the door and even tours with groups. This is a must-visit for cat lovers when the mansion is open for tours.

Eddie, the museum cat, turned up on the museum’s back steps several years ago. He was malnourished and clearly without a home, and the staff decided to take him in. It was a fitting thing to do considering the museum’s history.

Gertrude Hotchkiss set up annual donations to the Connecticut Human Society and Torrington Animal Control Facility in her will, which continue to this day.

She also bequeathed the home and grounds to the Torrington Historical Society upon her death in 1956.

Eddie has proven to be a friendly, low-maintenance cat, and a delight to the staff and visitors, some of whom come just to see him.

Paws also found that he inspired the “Pet Pals” exhibition at the historical society, which featured photos of Torrington residents, past and present, and their animal companions.

Eddie lives in the heated Carriage House and spends some time outdoors in the warmer months.

What you need to know:

Address: 192 Main Street, Torrington, CT 06790
Phone: (860) 482-8260

Website: https://www.torringtonhistoricalsociety.org/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TorringtonHistoricalSociety/?fref=ts

Hours
The Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum and permanent exhibits
are open seasonally, mid-April through October.
​
Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum
Open mid-April through October 31
Thursday – Saturday 12-4pm
 
Christmas at the Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum 
Call for hours
 
Torrington History Museum
Open mid-April through October 31
Wednesday- Saturday 12 -4pm 
 
John H. Thompson Library and Archives
January – December
Wednesday-Friday by appointment
 
The Torrington Historical Society is closed on Sundays, Mondays, and all major holidays
 
Admission
 
Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum: $7
Christmas at the Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum:  $10
Torrington History Museum: Free

For more information about Eddie, check ut this article published in The Register Citizen.

Two Wrasslin’ Cats, a Cat-Themed Catopia Of A Cafe

Cat lovers take note of this little-known cat-themed stop in Connecticut. Two Wrasslin’ Cats Coffee House is a specialty coffee spot and cafe in East Haddam that’s obsessed with cats.

When you pull up to the cafe, you’ll be met with a colorful old house that’s guarded by two six-foot-tall cats by the door like playful sphinxes.

This furry-friend-themed shop is a true community spot, and everyone inside will treat you just like family. While there’s lots of cat-themed art, you won’t find any live cats here

Indulge in a specialty coffee drink, enjoy a sandwich, and embrace this cat-like cafe in Connecticut. On the menu, you will find cat-themed dishes, like Littermate, The Tomcat Turkey, The Kitten Club, and a whole lot more.

This cobalt blue coffee house and cafe is situated in a circa 1784 house in the bucolic community of East Haddam, CT with a mission to welcome all people, build a community asset and provide unmatched customer service while serving outstanding fresh food and coffee.

This unique coffee house bears the names of the owner and founder’s playful feline companions, Bruno and Larry, who are only at the cafe in spirit.

Interesting Info:

Two Wrasslin’ Cats operates under. Thiede, who has a Ph.D. in molecular biology and biochemistry, and is retired from a career at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. He opened the cafe in May 2013 and since then, has been building that sense of community through breakfast, lunch, coffee, ice cream, and conversation.

What you need to know:

Address: 374 Town St, East Haddam, CT 06423

Website: http://twowrasslincats.com/

Phone: (860) 891-8446

Hours:

Monday: 9am – 3pm
* Closed Tuesdays *
Wednesday – Friday: 9am – 3pm
Saturday – Sunday: 9am – 3pm

If you visit these little known Connecticut tourist attractions for the cat-obsessed, be sure to check this out.

Cat Lovers Must Visit the Mark Twain House & Museum

If you enjoyed this article, you might want to check out some additional Paws cat tourism posts.

• Philadelphia City Hall is a cat tourism destination
• Roosevelt Cat Sanctuary ideal for the cat-obsessed
• Get Your Cat Fix at the Dr Seuss Museum
• Get a Big Dose of Cat at Cat’n Around Catskill
• Ohio’s Lucky Cat Museum features iconic Maneki Neko Cats
• Poland’s Cat Museum Ideal for Cat Lovers
• Virtual Museum Tours for Cat Lovers
• Cat Tourism on the Rise & Why We Are Writing About It

Do you have a favorite cat-themed destination? If so, leave a comment, and even upload a photo for our readers to see. Or better yet, we can feature it in a future blog post. To keep up with the latest cat news and more, sign up for our email list below, and get YOUR FREE Comprehensive Guide to Stop Kitty from Destroying Your Sofa.