Cat Rescue Cafes

cat in cafe window Photo by Şahin Sezer Dinçer: https://www.pexels.com/photo/cat-lying-on-pillow-of-sidewalk-cafe-17425763/Photo by Şahin Sezer Dinçer: https://www.pexels.com/photo/cat-lying-on-pillow-of-sidewalk-cafe-17425763/

Have you ever heard of a cat rescue cafe? If not, you’re in for a real treat right now to learn about them. Cat rescue cafes are popping up all over the place and there might be one near you.

What Is A Cat Rescue Cafe?

Cat rescue cafes are cafes where you can go for drinks, often coffee drinks, snacks, and sometimes sandwiches and other foods. You can also pet and play with cats. Doesn’t that sound like fun?

cat coffee drink Photo by Hannah Wei https://unsplash.com/photos/ptLWrQH2wn8Photo by Hannah Wei https://unsplash.com/photos/ptLWrQH2wn8

Each cat rescue cafe runs things differently. Sometimes you pay an admission fee. This fee could give you an hour or some other time increment where you hang out with the cats and play with them. Other cat rescue cafes do not charge an admission fee but make their money only through food and beverage sales, or they ask for donations.


Most cat rescue cafes are businesses, but some are run by nonprofit organizations.


It is generally against health codes for cats to be anywhere near kitchens or eating areas in the U.S. The eating area and kitchen are in a part of the cafe that the cats don’t have access to. There is usually a clear wall between the eating area and the cats so you can sip your latte while gazing at the cats.


Cat enjoying the sun inside Photo by Eric Han on Unsplash https://unsplash.com/photos/WJ6fmN1D-h0Photo by Eric Han https://unsplash.com/photos/WJ6fmN1D-h0

Cats get a place to live that is better than a shelter. Potential adopters can meet the cats in a relaxed environment. People who love cats but can’t have one, or who are traveling and miss their cats, or just want more cat time for whatever reason can just go to the cat rescue cafe and enjoy.

Adopting From A Cat Rescue Cafe

Cay getting belly rub Photo by little plant on Unsplash https://unsplash.com/photos/65Ao1x4qRlwPhoto by little plant https://unsplash.com/photos/65Ao1x4qRlw

Most cat rescue cafes get their cats from a shelter or rescue that they have a relationship with. Most will not take an abandoned cat directly. The cat rescue cafe is a place for the cat to live that is better for the cat than a shelter. The cat rescue cafe can be a homey, pleasant place for the cat.


The cats are usually up for adoption at a cat rescue cafe. Customers can play with the cats and form a bond with one of them and decide to adopt. Then the cat rescue cafe can get a new cat from the rescue or shelter. If no one adopts a cat, that cat will just live out their life at the cafe.


The cat rescue cafe is usually a much more pleasant place for the cat to live than a shelter. The cats have lots of free play time, they are not usually in cages at all in the cafe. They also get a lot of attention from staff and customers. Potential adopters can meet a relaxed, happy cat when they are looking to adopt. 


History Of Cat Rescue Cafes And Cafes for Other Animals

Cat and Dog Cafe Sign Kafe Kucing. (2023, March 11). In Wikipedia. https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kafe_kucinghttps://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kafe_kucing

According to the media, the first cat cafe, called Cat Flower Garden, was opened in Taiwan in 1998. It is still open and is called Cat and Dog Cafe. There may have been other cafes that allowed cats before Cat Flower Garden, but they became profiled on the news as the first cat cafe and the idea spread. 


Cats at Cat and Dog Cafe are not adoptable, you just go there to enjoy them. The cafe rescues them from the street.


The cats are actually surrounding the people eating and you can buy cat treats to give to the cats. The laws regarding animals in eating establishments must be different in countries besides the U.S. because it is quite common in Taiwan and other places for the cats to be right with you as you eat.


cat and a dog in a cafe Photo by Olha Ivanova on Unsplash https://unsplash.com/photos/0dhcf11MSisPhoto by Olha Ivanova https://unsplash.com/photos/0dhcf11MSis

Cat Rescue Cafes spread to other countries, especially Japan, quickly. There are cat rescue cafes in almost every state in the U.S. There might be one near where you live and if you travel to a large urban area, you should search out a cat rescue cafe when you are there.


Cat and Dog Cafe has cats and dogs and even a bird at the cafe. There are lots of multi-animal cafes, especially in Japan and South Korea. There are cafes with dogs, birds, rabbits, reptiles, sheep, raccoons, foxes, and more.


Owl cafes can be found in Japan. Most of them charge en entry fee to be with the owl and don’t serve food or drink.


Problems with Cat Rescue Cafes and Animal Cafes

Cat - scared. Photo by Francesco Ungaro https://www.pexels.com/photo/cute-kitten-hiding-behind-a-pillow-96938/Photo by Francesco Ungaro https://www.pexels.com/photo/cute-kitten-hiding-behind-a-pillow-96938/

Some cats really need a quiet environment without a lot of change or noise. These cats don’t do well in a cat rescue cafe. They would be better off in a regular foster home until they find their forever family.


Before you go to a cat rescue cafe or other animal cafe. Be sure to check the customer reviews of the place. There are some places that don’t take good care of the animals in the cafe. The animals might be overcrowded, kept in cages, or put in stressful situations too much. You don’t want to experience that and you don’t want to support a cafe that doesn’t look after the animals well.


cat in a cafe Photo by tu nguyen: https://www.pexels.com/photo/ginger-cat-sitting-in-an-open-window-at-a-bar-15879564/Photo by tu nguyen: https://www.pexels.com/photo/ginger-cat-sitting-in-an-open-window-at-a-bar-15879564/

Running a cat cafe can be extra hard. It isn’t easy to run a restaurant of any kind. Many restaurants fail to make money and close within the first year.


It’s also not easy to run an animal shelter. Vet care, food, toys, and other expenses can be huge. So you combine the two and it’s amazing that any cat rescue cafe stays in business! 


In The U.S., regulations around animals and food are strict. Cat rescue cafes are often inspected more often and without any advance notice. Health department infractions can close a cat rescue cafe temporarily, or for good if the problems can’t be taken care of.


Conclusion

cats and coffee sign. Photo by Susan Q Yin https://unsplash.com/photos/iLl5aKIkGicPhoto by Susan Q Yin https://unsplash.com/photos/iLl5aKIkGic

Spending an afternoon at a cat rescue cafe, or one for other animals, can be a fun way to get your animal time if you live in the city. If the cafe is run well, you are supporting a good cause. You might be able to find a cat rescue cafe near your home, but definitely look out for them when you are traveling, especially if you go to Asia.


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