A FELINE FRIEND TO ALL

THE ‘GREAT CATSBY’ LIVES ON IN SCULPTURE BY THE LAKEWALK

By Alison Stucke

Though he lost his ninth and final life in November 2016, in a deadly encounter with a car, Catsby, a well-known and well-loved cat from Lakeside, lives on in Duluth’s collective memory. And now his image, cast in bronze, can be seen at the Lakewalk at 40th Avenue East. Local artist Ann Klefstad made the lifesize bronze statue of his likeness that playfully stands watch for friends old and new. The statue includes a plaque and a QR code that accesses stories, photos, videos and social media about Catsby.

“Everyone thinks their pet is special, but this creature really was,” said Deb Hannu, a Duluth resident who met the “Great Catsby” even before moving in to her Lakeside home. “We were looking at our house to purchase it, and I saw a big cat on the porch. As we moved in and after, Catsby would come over and visit and hang out. We’d hear his collar jingling, and he’d come trotting over to say hello. He would greet everybody.”

“The Great Catsby” was a large gray and white cat. He loved people and attention, and he loved the outdoors. His owner, Sue Hagge, couldn’t keep him from escaping his home to go outside. Sue got Catsby when he was 6 months old. He had been a barn cat and an outdoor cat in his previous home.

“Keeping him inside was impossible,” Sue said. “Catsby was a very unique cat. He was easily the smartest cat I’ve ever had. He loved to be around people. He was very good at lifting spirits wherever he went. It was his mission to be a blessing to everyone he met. It’s so nice to know that so many people thought so highly of him.”

Catsby wore a collar with a tag displaying Sue’s phone number, so people could call her if they found him away from home.

“He would roam around the neighborhood, where he would get treats,” Deb said. “He had all of these connections with people in the community. He sort of seemed like everybody’s cat in the neighborhood. He seemed to know if you needed a little visit — he’d come and love you up a little. People collectively took care of him. I would drive him home, or late at night I’d call his number on his tag, and his mom would come and pick him up.”

He liked to walk on the Lakewalk and meet friends. He liked to go into businesses and neighbors’ houses. He’d visit Ecumen Lakeshore senior living community and Duluth East High School.

“He enjoyed the students at East, the people at Ecumen, and his friends at the Lakewalk,” Sue said. “He was known for jumping in cars, and running inside buildings to visit. He would just wait for people to pet him. He was just a special guy. We only had him for five years. It would have been nice to see his life go on and on. But at least it was five years.”

“A lot of kids at East have stories about him,” Deb said. “They’d blog about him, and they made an Instagram page for him. Kids would say things, like, it didn’t matter if you got good grades; he loved everybody.”

Stories were even heard that Catsby liked to ride on the hoods of cars as they went through the McDonald’s drive-thru on London Road.

“He was a pretty street-smart cat,” Deb said. “His range was from 60th Avenue East all the way to McDonald’s.”

A 5-K run through Catsby’s favorite areas was held last May, and a GoFundMe page was made to raise money for creation of the statue. An unveiling event was held at the statue in late November.

“He was a character, an old soul,” Deb said. “I think he’ll bring such joy to people who pass by him on the Lakewalk.” invites you