Cat cafes provide the ideal combination of caffeine and feline companionship, offering both in a single convenient place. Cat cafes have mushroomed across East Asia (where it first began) and Europe.
Patrons typically pay an hourly fee to enter a room resembling a living room and full of cats, and purchase beverages and prepackaged snacks from within that space.
The Phenomenon
Cats and coffee have long been an integral part of popular culture. You’ve likely seen videos featuring cats or followed catfluencers with millions of followers; and cat cafes that provide animal interaction for an affordable fee.
Visits to neko cafes can be extremely relaxing and even therapeutic for many people, with those lacking space or time caring for their own pets particularly enjoying this form of animal interaction.
Conceptually, cat cafes are simple: customers pay a nominal entry fee to enter an environment resembling a living room complete with various cats; then sit comfortably on chairs or sofas as they play with and pet these exotic felines – some cafes also serve drinks and snacks!
Some animal advocates are critical of cat cafes, noting that the constant flow of strangers may be stressful and may lead to aggressive behaviors in cats. However, most cafes take steps to ensure all cats remain comfortable and well-behaved during their visits.
The Cats
Cat cafes typically house felines from local animal shelters and rescue groups, encouraging customers who fall hard for one of these adorable felines to schedule a meet-and-greet to see if it might be their new best friend. If that’s the case for them, patrons are strongly encouraged to arrange such an encounter in order to find their furever pal.
While critics may worry that frequent change can stress cats out and lead to behavioral issues, cafe owners ensure all the cats on their premises are microchipped and up-to-date on vaccinations – an added benefit that has many adopting out their cats rather than seeing them euthanized at shelters.
Strosting cats has been shown to reduce cholesterol, relax people and foster a sense of connection, all of which make the experience worthwhile. Stalling an animal provides similar health benefits as drinking coffee; both reduce blood pressure and boost mood – so the cat-filled cafe trend seems here to stay!
The Coffee
Cat cafes operate under the same principle: patrons pay an hourly or half-hour entry fee to enter an environment designed like a living room and relax while petting cats while sipping drinks like coffee, tea and juice – either included as part of their entry fee or sold separately.
Cafe owners tend to be animal welfare activists and want the felines in their cafes to find permanent homes. According to studies, petting an animal has been shown to reduce stress levels, lower blood pressure and foster feelings of connection and companionship.
Cafes provide an alternative solution for people unable to own pets themselves, such as college students on campus and apartment dwellers with lease agreements that do not permit pet ownership. Moose Jaw’s Excalipurr Cat Cafe has already welcomed many such patrons; and San Francisco’s KitTea, featuring both gourmet tea house dining and cat cafe features, will likely draw many more.
The Rules
As cat cafes have gained in popularity worldwide, it’s worth considering how they operate. Many cities have strict rules regarding how cafes treat animals; for instance in the US cafes that contain cats cannot prepare food or drinks in the same room where they reside. Owners must adhere to multiple health codes; additionally some need to obtain animal licenses.
Cat cafes often source their cats from animal shelters in their area and select them based on temperament and the amount of attention from volunteers.
Not all cats make suitable candidates for cafe life, however. Some may become overly anxious around people and become aggressive, while other cats find it hard to adjust to an endless stream of strangers trying to invade their space – possibly manifesting with runny eyes/nose, overgrooming, diarrhea and vomiting, all symptoms indicative of stress which could ultimately lead to illness in cats.https://www.youtube.com/embed/jJdlgKzVsnI