Cat cafés disprove the conventional view of animal behaviorists and experts that cats are solitary creatures who can’t get on with other cats. Selected cats do get along with each other because over 10,000 years of domestication they have adapted to communal living. It is an ongoing process but choose the right mix of cats and it’ll work out. There are many successful cat cafés in Asia and they are starting up in England. There are 39 in Tokyo for example. The one in the video is in Seoul, Korea.

It is interesting that the well known cat rescue organisation, Cats Protection, criticise cat cafés. They say the cats will be stressed because they are indoors all the time meeting different people. I agree that a constant stream of different people can make a cat anxious but it depends on the cat. A lot of cats are laid back about noise and different people being around. Provided the cats are well chosen for temperament and well socialised I don’t see a problem. Also there is no need for the cats to be confined to indoors. Surely it is possible to select a site for the café that has a back yard for the cats to enjoy.

The South West of England is quite trendy these days. It is a retirement and holiday area. They don’t like big business in that neck of the woods. They much prefer local businesses as they help to create a community. The town of Totnes, south Devon, turned down a new Costa coffee house but gladly accepted a cat café opened by an individual who is a former wildlife hospital owner, Liz Dyas. She has selected suitable cats and made sure they are relaxed about meeting new people. She also has a special area for the cats….

“….their own luxury accommodation back in our garden, a large chalet with its own garden and aerial tree runs,” says Liz

We know that cat cafés are at least potentially good for cats because they are a home for cats. I am sure some unwanted cats find themselves wanted at a cat café.

Meeting People

The great advantage of a cat café for a person is that you are amongst like-minded people. People who like cats. Also a person is almost bound to engage in cat talk with another person, stranger or not. A charming cat mooching around is a great topic for conversation and an ice-breaker. A cat is a ready made topic.

There is no doubt in my mind that cat cafés are a good idea for cats and people. Customers are going to be cat lovers and they are nice people 😉 A great place to find a soul mate.