Feline Fun is written/compiled by
Patrick Roberts
Copyright © 2003-12 Purr 'n' Fur UK

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Section 1: pubs now closed down or gone, but signs were photographed.
Regrettably, changing times and circumstances mean that the number of pubs in the UK is decreasing, and the following show signs for pubs we know of that used to include cats, but are no longer in existence.

Alley Cats
Wigton, Cumbria (north-west England).
1992.
Closed, date unknown.

Black Cat
Lymington, Hampshire (southern England).
1998.
Closed, date unknown.

Cat and Cockatoo
Pontesbury, Shropshire (West Midlands of England).
This pub used to be called the Horseshoes, but was renamed during the 1980s when there was a fashion for 'different' names. However, it didn't last and reverted to the Horseshoes Inn some years ago.

Cat and Fiddle
Pirton, near Hitchin, Hertfordshire (south-eastern England).
1992.
This is now a private house.
See also sign from 1984.

Cat's Whiskers
Elgin, Scotland.
2006.
At the end of 2008 we were told this pub no longer exists.
See also picture of the nameboard.
Both photos courtesy of John Pownall.

Cat's Whiskers
Luton, Bedfordshire (south-eastern England).
See also 'The Office' below.

Cheshire Cat
Thornton Hough, Cheshire (north-west England).
1992.
No longer exists.

Downing Arms
Tadlow, near Royston, Hertfordshire.
Closed in 1996, this pub is included here because locals knew it as 'The Scratching Cat'. Owned by Downing College, which was endowed by Sir George Downing, the sign showed the Downing family arms, featuring a griffin — which the locals did not recognise.
Picture of the pub

Ginger Tom
Sneinton, Nottingham (East Midlands of England).
1965.
As well as the actual pub sign, this used to have two other signs at the parking entrance and exit. It was later renamed Huckleberry's, but finally closed in 2004 and was demolished.

Live and Let Live
Oldham, Lancashire.
2007.
We believe this town pub is now closed; certainly the sign is very neglected, and it's not even clear what was shown with the kitten.
Picture of the pub
Both photos PnF.

The Office
Luton, Bedfordshire.
1997.
Was renamed from the 'Cat's Whiskers' (see above), but in 2007 was an Indian restaurant and no longer a pub.

Old Butcher's Arms
Calne, Wiltshire (south-western England).
2005.
This no longer appears on lists of pubs in Calne, so seems to have closed.

Rampant Cat
Burford, Oxfordshire.
1986.
The pub closed during the 1990s and was converted into a Chinese restaurant. A much older sign, from the 1950s, is shown here in black and white; thanks to Jack Adams of the Pub History Society for providing the image.

Robin Hood
Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire (south-eastern England).
2004.
This has become an Indian restaurant in recent years.

Whittington's
London EC4.
1998.
Former pub-cum-wine bar near St Paul's Cathedral in London, now (July 2009) an Indian restaurant.

Ye Olde Market
Newark, Nottinghamshire (East Midlands of England).
1993.
This pub was in the centre of Newark, and was the only one in town with a dance floor. It was closed in about 2005 and the building has been for sale since then (as at June 2009). It is a large building that could be converted into apartments.

Section 2: changed sign and/or name.
The following pubs still exist and at one time featured a cat on their sign, but no longer do. In the years given, the cats were still there.

Cat and Lantern
East Barnet, Hertfordshire.
Since autumn 2007, according to the ISS, this has become the 'Village Bar'.
Picture of the pub
All photos PnF, 2005
(Note: the main sign was very badly weathered, and the image has therefore been enhanced to show an approximate representation of the original artwork)

The Commodore
Grange-over-Sands, Lancashire.
Date unknown.
The genial naval gentleman used to have a cat on the sea wall behind him as shown, but on today's sign it is no longer there.
Picture of the pub 2009 (PnF).

First In, Last Out
Hastings, East Sussex.
1996.
Picture of the pub 2009 (PnF).

Live and Let Live
Booker Common, High Wycombe.
2000.
This Buckinghamshire pub is now known as 'The Livvy' (July 2009) and has no pictorial sign.
Picture of the pub 2009 (PnF).

Live and Let Live
Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire.
2000.
Picture of the pub 2009 (PnF).

Live and Let Live
Olympia, West London.
2002.

Live and Let Live
Pegsdon, Bedfordshire (south-eastern England).
1994.

New Broom
Checkley, near Stoke-on-Trent (north-west England).
1978.

Old Wine Vaults
Eastwood, Nottingham (East Midlands of England).
1988.
Picture of the pub, 2007 (PnF).

Owl and the Pussycat
Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey, not far from London.
June 2005.
We understand from the Inn Sign Society that this pub was renamed The Queen's Head in 2006 or 2007.
Picture of the pub
Both photos PnF.

Red Well
Over Kellet, Lancashire.
Unknown date.
Picture of the pub, 2007 (PnF).

The Romper
Ringway, Manchester.
1996.
Picture of the pub, 2006 (PnF).

Whitecotes
Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
1997.
Picture of the pub, 2007 (PnF).

White Horse
Chilgrove, Wiltshire.
1996.
This is strange: the story is that the signwriter couldn't paint horses, so he painted a cat instead! A later sign showed a horse; but since April 2009 the place has become an upmarket restaurant called 'The Fish House'.