NYC Hotel Forced to Banish Beloved Cat from Lobby

NEW YORK (AP) — The fur is flying at New York City's Algonquin Hotel, where the literary lights of the Round Table used to exchange witty remarks over lunch.

One of the hotel's other traditions is the succession of cats that have had free run of the place for 80 years. But that tradition has ended.

The New York Post reports (http://nyp.st/tS5dnn ) that city health inspectors have banned the current cat, Matilda, from roaming the lobby.

The city Department of Health says pets are not allowed in areas where food is served. And the Algonquin serves food in the lobby.

The Post says Matilda is now on a leash behind the check-in desk or out of sight on a higher floor.

The blue-eyed cat took up residence last winter. She's the 10th Algonquin cat since 1932.

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Online:

www.algonquinhotel.com/algonquin-cat

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Information from: New York Post, http://www.nypost.com