About SeaCat's Rest

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Prior to arriving in Nova Scotia, Ruth and David lived in Barbados in the Caribbean. On Barbados, an Octopus is referred to as a SeaCat. Partly because Octopi are such intelligent and clever animals, and partly because we made such good friends in Barbados that we never want to forget them, we decided to call our little haven the SeaCat's Rest. 

And there is more to that story. 

We brought two rescue cats with us, Oscar and Aspen, from Barbados. We wish to reduce stress on them in our home, hence our no-pets rule. Our cats are not permitted in the rental unit or outside. Aspen is also 90% blind and perpetually scared. So SeaCats seemed appropriate from that perspective too.

And there is more to that story.

A number of "cat" creatures inhabit the area - marine otters, marine catfish, wolffish, chimaera-fish and harbour seals - all of which are also termed Sea Cats in various parts of the world, including here. There is also a great deal of other wildlife and sea creatures to see and observe.

And there is more to that story.

Arichat and the Isle Madame have a rich and quite tempestuous history. See History for more details. Arichat Harbour is also the deepest natural harbour on Cape Breton and French, British, and Canadian ships would berth here, make repairs here, and operate all manner of businesses - including smuggling - from here.

And there is more to those stories.

There is also mystery. Who was Isle Madame named after? Was it Madame Maintenon, the second wife of Louis XIV? Why were they married at midnight? What was the affaire des poisons? And what haunts Cap Auget?

And there is more to those stories.

John Paul Jones (the "Father of the American Navy") sacked Jerseyman Island at the mouth of the Arichat Harbour in September 1776 and captured 9 ships, 3 of which then foundered in a storm on the 25th September. 

And there is a lot more to that story.

From catastrophes to catechisms to catenary curves to cat-o'-nine-tails to catoptrophorus birds (willets and sand-pipers), the SeaCat needs a Rest.

And so, we write stories.