Japan’s Cat Cafe
Interesting ideas come out of Japan. The latest trends over the years is the Cat Cafe. I wonder if such a cafe business would work in the U.S., but probably not as successful as in Japan.
I have heard of dogs for rent, where people can rent dogs for the hour and just take them out for the day.
At Cafe Nekorobi all the cats have their own photograph albums for visitors to look through. Image source.
Norimasa Hanada, owner of Neko no mise (Shop of Cats) was among the first to open up a cat cafe. Handa explained, cat cafe are popular with young urbanites who live in rental apartments that prohibit pets. While most family condominium allow pets, it’s really the young single people who could use some comfort and companionship of a pet.
Here is Megumi, 33, an office worker. She noticed that each cat cafe has it’s own vibe. This one at Neko no mise, has more friendly cats that are less stressed out. Image source.
The fees are charged by the hour, from $7 - $10. In order to survive in the cat cafe business, they need a high turnover rate of visitors. Despite the recession, the folks here don’t mind spending the money to hang out with these furry creatures. Maybe it is due to work or other stressful events, that cat cafes are so popular. Consider it “pet therapy”.
Yuko Kobata wrote in Reuters newspaper, “Visitors to Calico pay 800 yen ($7) an hour or 2,000 yen for three hours in a big room where 14 well-brushed and shampooed cats hang out. After a thorough handwash, the visitor can play with the cats, read comics or just relax. The clean, odorless cafe — Calico has six air fresheners and the litter trays are out of sight”.
Calico cat cafe gets about 70 visitors a day during the week and 150 a day at weekends. And the majority of visitors are working women and children. Many don’t own cats due to allergies or housing regulations. But they still love to spend time with them anyway.
Kayoko, 32, kindergarten teacher. Both seem really content and happy with each other. Image source.
In San Francisco, there is a nice (no kill) cat shelter you can stop by and visit with the cats. The intention is to eventually find one to adopt. Unlike the cat cafe, there are no coffee or tea available.
8:54 pm on February 24th, 2010
This made me think of China where there is a shortage of female, and they rent a girlfriend, some would rent to take home to showoff to their family for Chinese New Year. I thought it was rather a strange concept and idea.
I guess visiting a cat cafe is not a bad idea if you love cat and can’t have one at home. I wouldn’t mind visiting a dog cafe, but then I feel like I visit one everyday.
11:44 pm on February 25th, 2010
That is an odd story and somewhat sad that you have to “lie” to your family for some kind of approval. Then again, others might find some American ideas to be quite strange too!
Yes, we are lucky to have our very own cat or dog cafe right at home. Pets are amazing. As for the cats, they seem to chose us rather then we choosing them.
10:32 pm on February 27th, 2013
[...] Cat lovers in London will soon have their own cat cafe. Entrepreneur Lauren Pears, 30 years old, was able to raise more than $151,000 through project-funding website Indiegogo. She is currently looking for space and will have the cafe opened up in a few months. The cafe idea is based on the popular Japanese cat cafe. [...]