Japan's cat cafes hit with new curfew

Times are looking tough for Tokyo's cat cafes, where feline aficionados can drop in for tea and some time with a cat. At most such establishments, it's the post-work rush that brings in the most cash, with tired and harried professionals dropping by on their way homes to pet and play with the animals as a way of relieving stress.

But now the purrs of delight may be getting quieter. A revision to Japan's Animal Protection Law, due to come into force on June 1, will slap a curfew on the public display of cats and dogs, forcing cat cafes to shut up shop at 8 p.m. (newsday.com)