Just months after her first fashion show, the city Department of Health & Mental Hygiene has sent Matilda the Algonquin cat into exile! The department has banished the cat from her lobby lounge, according to the NY Post, and she's now reduced to being on a leash behind the check-in desk, or lounges on a higher floor, away from where food and drinks are being served. A manager also told inspectors that they contained Matilda with an electronic fence.
This is the third Matilda at the hotel (though they've had ten total since 1932), and she just moved in last winter. But the hotel isn't holding Bloomberg at fault, they told the Post that guests were abusing here, saying, “People seem more aggressive toward her, and she’s responding in a way that’s not helpful." Though they did add, "The [Health] department in the past months suggested to us that pets in food-service facilities are no longer commingled."
Come January 1st, Matilda will have to acclimate to a whole new atmosphere, as the hotel will close for a four month long, $15 million renovation. Hopefully the DOH won't stop next summer's cat fashion show from happening. For the record, the Health Department sent us this statement: "According to the New York City Health Code, live animals are not allowed in food service establishments (except for edible fish, shellfish, or crustacean) unless a patron needs a service dog."
