Hodge was Johnson's cat.
As a non-cat person himself, Boswell was much surprised at the "indulgence with which he [Johnson] treated Hodge". Dr Johnson would go out himself to purchase oysters for the cat. Apparently he did so, in case the servants became resentful of doing so and took "a dislike to the poor creature". Boswell also writes that he recalled seeing Hodge "scrambling up Dr Johnson's breast, apparently with much satisfaction", while the Doctor rubbed the cat's back and gently tugged his tail. To his credit, for a non cat lover, Boswell remarked that Hodge was a fine cat, to which Dr Johnson replied "Why yes, sir, but I have had cats whom I liked better than this". However, upon observing that his poor cat seemed put out, added, "But he is a very fine cat; a very fine cat indeed."
I found, and spent some time in, the house as well and, in the process, learnt more about Johnson than I had previously known. His treatment of Hodge seems symptomatic of his relationship with others. His house was a refuge for an assortment of human waifs and strays whom he could ill afford to support but to whom he was very kind. I am now primed to read Boswell's biography.
Dr Johnson's house, built in 1700 - very tall but only one-room deep, with a vertigo-inducing wooden spiral staircase! http://www.drjohnsonshouse.org/index.htm
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