Cats and cake? Cat Cafes, the new UK craze

There’s a new craze for cat lovers popping up throughout the UK. Something that originated abroad is slowly but surely infiltrating quite a few UK cities; and it’s causing quite a divide in opinion.

The concept is cat cafes. Coffee houses where you sit and relax, surrounded by feline friends. They have a food supply, water supply, toys and lots of perches and hiding spots all over the café.

I can totally see the pros and cons to this concept. The pro being, that most of the cafes are intending to have rescue felines as their residents; and if a customer falls for one of the cats specifically, they’ll be able to offer that cat a home. (Subject to a series of checks, naturally.)

However, it’s argued by some that the environment is not especially a natural one for the cats that will be living there. While I see the point that’s being made, I would hope that the rescues take into account the personality of each cat they allow to frequent these establishments. If a cat is, by nature, not particularly interactive it would be hoped they wouldn’t be recommended as a suitable feline rep in the cafes.

The point is this is not something that can be dictated by a blanket policy. What would make some cats miserable would put others in their element.

My own opinion is this; with careful consideration, the concept is likely to be massively beneficial within the rescue world to help find loving homes for some of the more exuberant cats that end up as residents.  People being able to interact with the cats on their terms would be advantageous and give them an insight into each cat’s personality. And hopefully, the cafes will consider the less forthright cats and maybe ensure there’s a way to get their information distributed to a wider audience too, such as a video loop of the cats in their foster homes with their details attached or a “wall of fame” with the appropriate personality information provided.

Time for tea? Isn’t it always…?