In Japan they are now almost an institution and now they are appearing in our continent as well. We’re talking about cat-cafes (or neko-cafes), the peculiar venues where, between a mug and a good book, you can spend a few hours in the company of cats.
Cat-café Nekokaigi, in Kyoto. Picture by sprklg on Flickr, via Wikimedia commons
Back in 2008, one of the things we wanted to do during our trip to Tokyo was visit a cat-café. Back home, we often had to explain what it was because the concept of “themed bar with cats” could sound a bit weird. In Japan, cat-cafes are a way cat lovers to be in the company of their favourite animals, in a city where people generally live in condos or homes that do not allow you to have pets. Obviously, cat-cafes are subjected to tight controls that ensure a clean environment and animal safety and they also become an opportunity to raise awareness among customers on the issues of abandonment and stray animals.
But how really is a Japanese cat-café? During our trip, we went to Calico, a cat-café in the neighborhood of Kichijyouji. To go in, you generally have to book first, or be put on a waiting list and wait for a free table. After an hour, our turn finally arrived: we left the shoes in the lockers at the entrance and we were invited to wash our hands. The environment is completely “cat-proof”: a heated carpet on the ground, relaxing music, games, hiding and scratching posts are the decor of the room. Obviously, there are also tables and chairs for us “human” and a library with many mangas to borrow. Cats are kept under tight control by the staff and put back in their spacious cages away from customers when they are too tired or nervous. Unfortunately, you can not stay in a cat-café indefinitely and after our hour and a half we were again invited to wash our hands and accompanied to the exit. The Calico is a “traditional” cat-café, but there are also themed bars dedicated to cats of a certain color or race (even chubby cats).
Some pictures taket at cat-café Calico, in Tokyo.
The first cat-café opened in Taiwan in 1998. Today there are dozens of them just in Tokyo and they are popping up in Europe as well. In Italy, two cafes are opening, both in Turin: the MiaGola Caffè (Via Amendola, 6D), and the Neko Café (Via Napione, 33). The first will be an all-female café that will offer not only the company of cats adopted from a shelter, but also a relaxed environment in which to talk and have a snack. Neko Café as well will host some adopted cats, as well as organic, vegetarian and vegan food and a booksharing service. It will also set up a counter to report disappearances, ill-treatment and adoptions, in collaboration with animal welfare organizations. Keep an eye on the facebook pages of the first two Italian Cat-cafes to be the first to know when they open their doors!