Nocturne's tummy is for viewing but not for touching.

--Fil

Also known as the Venus Flytrap move.

All of our cats have begged for tummy rubs.  And all would on occasion bunny
kick, bite, etc if you fell for it.  You learned to read their ears and
tails or rubbed at your own risk.

Best we've been able to manage is to teach one and all not to bite as hard
as they could.

Oh, and warn each other if they've been indulging in the nip.

Jo

Well, a cat showing you it's tummy isn't quite the gesture
of submission it is when a dog does it!  (A cat on its back,
with all four feet plus a mouthful of sharp teeth free for
action...... you get the picture.)

Oscar as well, although in the last few months she's sometimes,
grudgingly allowed us to touch the belly without fearsome
repercussions.

Difference is you can't much tell people they can't have a cat in the pub
there.

Here the "pub cats" are out back by the dumpsters, except when the weather
is bad and the cook or the dishwasher lets them in overnight at closing.

Jo

I don't know about the regulations in England, but lots of pub owners
seem to have cats or dogs as family pets that come down to the bar and
socialise with everyone, most people seem to like it, and look for
them.  There's one at another pub I go to called Tetley (a UK beer
brand), and another one has this beautiful long haired German Shepherd,
we normally go there just to see the dog.  Not all pubs serve food so
it's not a problem, but I don't know what the law is.  However, if the
owners live upstairs, try telling a cat that it's a health & safety
violation and has to stay upstairs!  I'd have thought it's OK if they
stay out of the food preparation areas, it's definately a bit of a
tradition here, especially in the country pubs I've been to.  Mind you
I did once see a dog called Wellingotn in a pub that I swear became an
alcoholic, he was always pinching slurps out of people's pints if they
didn't watch him!

Marcia

Down the street there is Max (Maxine) the dog, who hangs out at the liquor
store.  She is 9 years old.  They don't sell food there so it's okay for her
to hang out.  I'd imagine if they sold food it wouldn't be legal.

Jill

"Here" is obviously not Europe!  I guess the UK (like the
U.S.) is a bit fussy about allowing dogs in, but most places
in Europe, it's quite common for people to bring their dogs
into restaurants with them.  (Mostly the dogs lie quietly
under the table, and you often don't even notice they're
there until their poeple get up to leave.)

There is a very beautiful tuxedo girl named Princess that lives at the
store where I get my bird seed.  Obviously to keep the mice population
down but I just love going in there.  She's such a sweetie!  I love
bussinesses with resident pets.  Wish we had more of them!!

Generally true in UK too, but if said shop, restaurant, pub is also home of
person running it, rules are a little more relaxed. Part of great UK
tradition to have the pub landlord's dog or cat visiting the customers in
the bar, and a darned fine one it is too. There's a *fabulous* restaurant in
Norwich, 'By Appointment' where the food is wonderful (and expensive) and at
the end of the evening the owners' cat would deign to visit the customers...
cat was a lovely oriental spotted tabby, full of character and who made it
known who was really in charge. I've had many an excellent meal there in
good company, human and feline.

Cheers, helen s

Thanks, I'm fine - just a few more war wounds to add to the knife cut
on my thumb (when the gas was out I was so stressed I was too shaky to
cut a carrot!) - and the paper cut from work, my hands are not the most
attractive at the moment, but then I am clumsy at the best of times!