Health cops leash famed hotel cat

Fur flew in New York on Wednesday after city health police prompted the venerable Algonquin hotel to put its resident lobby cat on a leash.
 
Matilda III is The Algonquin's most pampered guest but now has to suffer the indignity of being leashed until she understands that due to newly enforced city hygiene rules the lobby has been declared for human use only.
 
"She's leashed right now, but as she learns, which she is doing, she will be free," said Alice Dealmeida, a spokeswoman for the Manhattan hotel, famous for hosting a glamorous literary salon known as the Round Table in the 1920s.
 
The restrictions on Matilda's movements came under pressure from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which grades eating establishments around the city and can ruin an outlet's reputation by awarding a dreaded "C."
 
Removing the cat from the seating area of the hotel's lobby area, where food is also served, was a preemptive measure while the hotel awaits what it hopes will be an "A."
 
The New York Post tabloid expressed "MEOW'TRAGE" over the lockdown and posters on Matilda's Facebook page concurred. "Hhow ruuuuude! Matilda is part of the Algonquin - doesn't the city have anything better to do??!" howled one fan.
 
"Don't let them get under your fur, Matilda. You stay right where you are!" snarled another.
 
Dealmeida insists that the puss at the center of the attention is taking things easy.
 
"She's in the lobby smiling and posing. She's at the front desk," Dealmeida told AFP.
 
The spokeswoman said the cat was "in training not to go in areas where they serve food" and that once this was accomplished the leash would come off.
 
The Algonquin has always had a house cat since the 1930s. Matilda, the 10th to take up residence, gets regular email and has her own room with a cat door - and room service of course.
 
Health inspections with the mandatory display of grades in restaurant windows were introduced by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
 
Bloomberg, who has also pushed vigorous anti-smoking and anti-fat food campaigns, says the public displays of the grades lead to higher standards. However, the mayor has seen accusations of imposing "nanny-state" rules.
 
There was uproar in city media earlier this week after reports that Sardi's, a venerable theater district bar where pictures of the stars line the walls, had been pressured to end its tradition of providing free, communal cheese platters.
 
Another New York favorite, the Di Fara pizzeria in Brooklyn, was forced to shut down last week - reopening this week - after failing to get a pass grade from health inspectors.
 
In a city of pizza lovers, pizza at Di Fara was considered by some to be the best and it regularly wins top honors from Zagat and other food guides. But inspectors said they found multiple violations, including elevated temperatures and signs of flies and mice.
 
Supporters flocked to the restaurant's Facebook page. "If there was a rodent having sex with a pig on top of MY pie... I would still eat it... God bless Di Fara's," one eager diner posted.