October 20, 2021

Akhmatova's Cat Goes Missing


Akhmatova's Cat Goes Missing
A picture of Osya, clearly hard at work.  Photo via the Facebook page of the Anna Akhmatova Museum

If you have been to the Museum of Anna Akhmatova in St. Petersburg within the past thirteen years, then it is possible that you might recognize Osya, the featured kitty of today's story. Osya is the oldest museum cat at the Akhmatova Museum (St. Petersburg is a city rather known for its museum cats, after all). 

On the evening of October 8, Osya mysteriously disappeared. While it is normal for cats to wander off, the problem is that due to Osya's advancing age, he is required to take medication every day, and without it, the cat can die. 

The museum called the police, put up posters, and even offered a cash reward and a lifetime of free admission to the museum for the cat's safe return, and luckily, the cat-burglar (pun-intended) answered the call in time. Apparently, the illegitimate owner had taken poor Osya off the street, believing him to have been a stray, but realized the error in their ways once they noticed an advertisement for the animal online. 

So fear not, Osya is now back on his medications, and Akhmatova's old residence is once again in good hands. 

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