Edgar Allan Poe

When Edgar Allan Poe's wife was dying of tuberculosis in 1847, Poe -- penniless and unable to buy fuel to keep her warm -- placed his cat Catarina in bed beside her. Catarina stayed with her throughout her illness, and, inspired by the cat's loyalty, Poe wrote one of his fines tales, 'The Black Cat." (courtesy Cat Fancy, November, 2007)