In countries like Japan, high population areas are forced into small apartments where they cannot afford the presence of pets due to lack of space. This was the premise that led the city of Osaka to open the first cat cafe in the Japanese nation in 2004 as a way to offer company to workers who went to a cafe to work or simply rest at the end of the day.
The beginning of the millennium marked the rise of these so-called ‘cat cafés’, or establishments where the customer can have a soft drink or snack with various cat friends, generally in a transition period before finding a permanent home. The pioneering establishments in Taipei and Osaka were followed by a third in Tokyo in 2005. Over the next few years, cat cafes spread throughout the world, with the following being some of the most popular among travelers and cats. urban lovers.
Manhattan’s first permanent cat cafe opened its doors in December 2013 after previewing it through a pop-up event hosted by brand Purina a year earlier. Today, Meow Parlor continues to be a benchmark for cat cafes as it is an establishment in collaboration with the non-profit organization KittyKind, a rescue group made up of different volunteers who promote the perfect match between the local felines and their future owners. .
Kattakaffihúsið (or “The Cat Café” in the original language) was Iceland’s first cat café, opened in the city of Reykjavik in March 2018. A vegetarian café that quickly became a magnet for travelers and locals thanks to its wide variety of teas, coffees, vegan cakes, rhubarb waffles, pesto sandwiches or rose milk infusions. A creative cuisine surrounded by a warm and welcoming atmosphere among different kittens waiting for the moment to be adopted.
On Duque de Rivas Street, located in the central Madrid neighborhood of Antón Martín, is La Gatoteca, a feline space where cats have their own microuniverse in the form of different little tables and even a specialized store. La Gatoteca was born as a pioneering and solidarity project promoted by Abriga, an NGO that manages the care of cats for adoption. If you are thinking of visiting this furry paradise in Madrid, it is mandatory to make a reservation in advance, since capacity is limited (and we don’t want kittens stressed by hordes of curious onlookers).
Located in the Hayes Valley area of ??San Francisco, KitTea delivers on the promise of a multifunctional space centered around cats. From the presence of a wooden obstacle course to Oreo cookies shaped like cat heads, every little detail of their Tea Lounge and Cat Lounge make up a unique playground. Not far from KitTea, we also find Cat Town Oakland, more focused on rescuing cats and managing their future adoption.
Katzentempel (or “cat temple”) is an organization that acts through different initiatives and establishments throughout Germany. However, the greatest reference is found in the city of Munich, where Katzentempel is deployed in the form of a vegan cafeteria where visitors can combine dishes made with 0km products along with the pampering that their kittens inspire. Like other organizations in this article, Katzentempel is in charge of managing the rescue of abandoned or stray cats together with different NGOs and then connecting them with interested future owners.
Considered by many to be the most beautiful cat café in all of Japan, Neko Cafe MoCHA Shibuya has two floors in the heart of Tokyo, specifically in the bustling Shibuya neighborhood. A universe of neutral and relaxing colors filled with comfortable spaces, avant-garde decoration and cozy wood furniture that invites you to relax in a unique environment. After paying the entrance fee, visitors can have unlimited coffee and tea, as well as buy cat treats that cost around 550 yen (about 3.5 euros).
London’s first cat café opened its doors in 2013 and is divided into different spaces such as its Basement Forest or Mad Catter’s Tearoom through environments reminiscent of a European tale that Alice passed through in search of a white cat. Awarded in the TripAdvisor Awards for five consecutive years, Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium not only allows interaction with her cat friends while having tea, but also the integration of the kittens in order to take them to their forever home. As a curiosity, there is a group of permanent cats nicknamed The Lord of the Rings, with names like Legolas or Frodo.
The owners of this cat café in the Italian capital assure that their establishment is more of a “philosophy” than a “business.” A space of tranquility where seven sweet cats from the non-profit organization Luna di Formaggio live today, in tune with the most foodie visitors. And Romeow is also a bistro with sophisticated cuisine and delicious vegan pastries to enjoy among cushions, warm chairs and even a piano that make up the definitive meeting point for animal lovers in the heart of Rome.
