Enjoying a coffee from the industrial coffee machine and eating a delicious piece of cake, that’s what many expect from a café. Few expect that there are also cats running around, climbing on chairs and being petted by the guests. But they’ve also been around in Germany for almost five years: cat cafes. The trend, which originated in Asia, is something special for animal lovers who do not have their own four-legged friends.
What is the concept of a cat cafe?
The concept of cat cafes comes from Asia. The first coffee shop in Taiwan was opened there in 1998. The four-legged friends scurry around freely between the coffee machine for commercial use, the tables and chairs and the guests. Especially in big cities, the living space is usually very limited and there is not much space for pets.
Cat cafés allow animals and animal lovers to meet in a relaxed atmosphere. In addition, a visit to the café should help visitors to relax and take a little break from the stresses of everyday life. But of course there are also rules for this type of encounter to protect the animals. The focus is on the cats, who decide for themselves whether they want to be petted and can withdraw at any time.
Cafes vary in menu, but most only offer small snacks and cakes. The range of coffee is in no way inferior to the range of “normal” cafés. A commercial coffee machine offers a wide range of products – from black coffee to cappuccino and latte macchiato.
Benefits of a cat cafe
A cat café offers young and old the opportunity to meet the animals in their familiar surroundings. Because the cats live permanently in the cat cafe. Most of them have been taken from animal shelters or even rescued from the street. Of course, the cats are medically examined beforehand. A cat café is not only intended as a pastime for people, but also offers homeless animals a new home.
In many large cities, including Germany, keeping pets is not allowed. Or working people don’t have time to take care of their own animal. Cat cafes offer the opportunity to watch and relax with these animals over a leisurely cup of coffee from the industrial coffee maker. But children can also watch the cats, pet them and play with them – if the cats want it. For kids without pets, this is a great change.
Are there any other animal cafes?
Yes, there are. The Japanese in particular are not running out of ideas for animal cafés. You can choose between hedgehogs, snakes, falcons, rabbits, dogs and also penguins, which you would like to watch over a cup of coffee from the industrial coffee machine. Some of these cafés then place a transparent box with the animal on the table for guests to examine closely.
The question of whether the animals are always enthusiastic about sitting on the platter, we leave open. In Germany, on the other hand, a retreat where visitors are not allowed to enter is one of the strict requirements. If the animals get too much, they can simply disappear.
