I sit at a table with kitty coasters sipping a pina-cat-lada, as I watch adults flock around a cat to broadcast it to Snapchat. Originating in Taiwan in 1998, becoming a craze in Japan, now gaining popularity in the UK – everyone is talking about cat cafes. This trendy coffee house theme is marketed merely on it’s benefits for humans. We are bombarded with health benefits and statistics about purring cats lowering stress.
Although it may be therapeutic for white collared workers to get their feline fix after a stressful board meeting, very few people have explored the negative impacts of these cafes and how it can psychologically affect the cats.
Cat behaviourists are debating whether cat cafes are ethically acceptable. The general consensus suggests that a cafe can be a thriving environment for felines depending on the personality of the individual cat and the setup of the cafe.
Many argue that cats are territorial animals who can’t live with 12 other occupants, however Anna Korzeniowska, cat behaviour counsellor at ‘PetsinPractise’ says it is more about how many resources there are to go round rather than about territories. “Cats are capable of sharing territories if there is enough to go round.”
Demonstrated in feral cat colonies where cats stick together when there are sufficient amounts of food and shelter to share. Cafes must be careful when selecting which animals to house, Anna suggests in order for a cafe to be successful and ethical they must adopt sociable cats. “Those who don’t mind hustle and bustle and habituated to busy places as kittens.”
Housing anxious cats together can even cause cats to develop a plethora of somatic conditions, such as a lower urinary tract disease.
Anita Kelsey who graduated in Feline Behaviour and Psychology believes that cats living in a business environment should not be permanent, however she puts forward the idea that it could be a “stop gap,” for cats awaiting adoption. Thus allowing the kitties to be spoilt with human affection, whilst simultaneously helping out rescue centres.
Cafes should not be treated as forever homes for cats. Anita says “I do not agree with cats being kept in when they might have had the chance to go to a home with a garden to act out their natural instincts.”
When you make cats and profit dependent on one another, do standards slip and does the care for cats become less of a priority? After all the cafe is a business, therefore its priority is profit. Cats begin to be viewed as moneymakers rather than living creatures who require care and compassion. Do they have a separate budget for unexpected veterinary expenses? Or would they rather save money and put the ill cat up for adoption? As there are not already enough cats in rescue homes.
Although many places such as You&Meow in Bristol have ‘house rules’ that must be read when booking, informing customers on their expected behaviour such as “no loud noises” or “don’t wake a sleeping cat.” Although this deters outrageously obnoxious behaviour, when visiting Bournemouth’s ‘Pause’ Cat Cafe even after running away, customers still followed and interacted with a cat who wanted to be alone.
Alternative activities for people craving a feline fix, rather than visiting a cat cafe, include volunteering at your local rescue shelter where lonely kitties need cuddles or if you have enough money and room in your heart you can adopt a cat! Anna Korzeniowska suggests attending a pedigree cat show. “They are interesting places to go for people who are interested in cat breeds and there are surprisingly many of them across the country.” Therefore if you want to see a ridiculous number of blue russians or witness the cutest, squish-faced white persian being groomed – then you should definitely go!
Although there are many alternative ways to spend time with cats, if you visit a cat cafe do research into the specific cafe before going. Is the space sufficient for that amount of cats? Do they have respectable guidelines to prohibit customers from causing stress? When attending, watch the cats, ensure they are happy and have a solitary space to escape to. If you are not happy with how the cats are being treated why not have a word with the owner or report it to ‘Cats Protection.’ If you think the animal’s treatment is particularly bad then you may need to report it to the RSPCA.