See under basement cat.
Cats have always liked to stay in vaulted cellars or wine cellars because of the mice that live there. According to an often told (but not factual) story, the house cat always sits on the best wine barrel in a cellar and licks away the drops that are spilled when the wine is taken out of the bunghole. A cat figure was therefore often placed on the best barrel in order to prevent the staff or servants from tapping some of it for themselves. There is also a Swabian saying that goes: " Give me some of the same...
As honorary chairman of the Domäne Wachau, it is the easiest and quickest way for me to access the wein.plus encyclopaedia when I have questions. The certainty of receiving well-founded and up-to-date information here makes it an indispensable guide.
Hans-Georg Schwarz
Ehrenobmann der Domäne Wachau (Wachau)