In China and Hong Kong, cats are thought to bring good luck and are kept in shops as well as homes. The Japanese keep birds and crickets as pets. In Arab countries, dogs are considered unclean. Contact with a dog must be followed by a ritual washing. The Italians also have little use for dogs but find cats charming and companionable. Thousands of stray cats live in the Forum, the Colosseum, and other historic landmarks in Rome. The Inuit Eskimo of northern Canada adopt bear cubs, foxes, birds, and baby seals. Animals are rarely kept as pets in Africa. The British are especially fond of pets. Half of all the households in England have a pet, usually a cat or bird.
