Have you ever heard of cat cafés? If not, you should definitely check them out. Cat cafés are a kind of animal shelter which allows cats and people to interact with each other. Cafés usually have between 10 and 20 cats, and the café area is separated from the area where the cats are housed. Cats are able to roam on a free space, not in a cage. If you are stressed or in a bad mood, just go to a cat café and have a chance to relax and pet felines, while sipping a coffee and eating some Japanese snacks. Studies have shown that when you spend time with cats, the level of serotonin, a chemical which is responsible for your well-being and happiness, increases. It is essential to remember that cats will not scratch or bite you as long as you treat them with respect. In addition, it is totally okay to take photos of kittens but using the flash may become a problem.
Image via MPRNews
The idea of cat cafés started in Taiwan in 1998 with “Cat Flower Garden”, and then it developed in Japan where it has become very common. The first Japanese cat café “Neko no Jikan” (Cat’s Time) was opened in Osaka in 2004. Cat cafés in Japan can be specialized in specific breeds of cats: munchkin cat, sphynx cat, or siberian cat, for example.
Why are cat cafés highly popular in Japan? Well, the fact that a lot of apartments forbid having pets definitely influences the popularity of cat cafés. Also, people feel less lonely spending time with cats.
Image via WTOP
Today, this concept has reached a lot of countries all over the world. Their mission is admirable: cat cafés provide cats with homes where they are fed and loved and can be adopted by guests. Cafés create a safe environment for cats where they are able to play and may find a permanent home. The first café in the U.S. is “Cat Town Café” (now called “Cat Town Café & Adoption Center”) in Oakland.