🐾 The Story of Room 8 — Elysian Heights’ Beloved School Cat

A Feline Who Found a Home in Room 8

In the fall of 1952, a thin gray tabby cat wandered through an open window into a classroom at Elysian Heights Elementary School in Echo Park. The classroom was called Room 8, and the students quickly took to their unexpected visitor. They offered him milk, affection, and a cozy place to nap. Before long, the friendly cat made himself at home—and the children, with simple affection, named him after their classroom: Room 8.

The Cat Who Came Back Every Year

From that day forward, Room 8 became a cherished member of the Elysian Heights family. Each morning, as the bell rang, he padded down the hallways, visiting classrooms and greeting students. He napped on desks, joined reading circles, and brought quiet joy to everyone he met.
Then, when summer vacation arrived, Room 8 would mysteriously disappear—only to return, without fail, on the first day of school in the fall. No one knew exactly where he went, but his annual return became one of the most beloved traditions in the school’s history.

A Celebrity Cat

Room 8’s charm didn’t stop at the classroom door. His story spread far beyond Elysian Heights, capturing hearts across Los Angeles and eventually the entire country.
He was featured in newspapers and magazines, including a three-page story in Look Magazine in 1962. Fans from around the world sent him letters—thousands of them—addressed simply to “Room 8, Los Angeles, California.” The Elysian Heights staff even set up a system for students to help answer his mail!
In 1966, his story was immortalized in the children’s book A Cat Called Room 8, written by the school principal and a teacher. Room 8 had officially become one of Los Angeles’ most famous felines.

Remembering a Legend

Room 8 continued to brighten the lives of students for sixteen years. He passed away peacefully in 1968 at the remarkable age of 21. His obituary ran in the Los Angeles Times, and he was laid to rest at the Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park in Calabasas, where a granite headstone marks his resting place.
Today, his memory lives on throughout the Elysian Heights campus. A mural celebrates his legacy, his paw print is set in concrete, and the inscription “Home of Room 8, School Cat 1952–1968” still greets visitors with pride. His story remains a treasured part of our school’s identity and continues to inspire kindness, community, and love for all living beings.

His Legacy Lives On

More than seventy years later, Room 8 is still part of what makes Elysian Heights Elementary Arts Magnet so special. His story reminds us that friendship can come in unexpected forms and that even the smallest acts of care can leave a lasting mark.
Every student who walks these halls follows in the pawprints of a curious little cat who chose this school—and its people—as his home.