Cat Cafes move out of Japan
April 5, 2014 6:47 PM Subscribe
Turin is the latest city to claim a cat cafe, which opened today. Originally a phenomena only in Japan, other cat cafes are already open in Paris, London, Vienna, St Petersburg, Budapest, Munich, Berlin, Madrid and Devon. Coming soon: San Francisco, Oakland, San Diego, Los Angeles, Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto, and Lithuania.
I'm sure there are some cats who like to travel, but mostly a cat truck sounds like punishment: "Defendant, I'm offering you a choice between six months in the big house or an afternoon driving the cat truck."
posted by Dip Flash at 6:57 PM on April 5, 2014 [21 favorites]
posted by Dip Flash at 6:57 PM on April 5, 2014 [21 favorites]
Cat cafes are so dated - now thrill-seekers in Japan go to rabbit cafes and owl cafes.
posted by Umami Dearest at 7:01 PM on April 5, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by Umami Dearest at 7:01 PM on April 5, 2014 [4 favorites]
The rabbits are very pettable, and probably better suited than cats for the job.
The owls, not so much.
posted by Umami Dearest at 7:04 PM on April 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
The owls, not so much.
posted by Umami Dearest at 7:04 PM on April 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
WHY ARE THESE NOT ON EVERY STREETCORNER?!
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 7:05 PM on April 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 7:05 PM on April 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
just animal cafes all around. "What do you feel like today, Jim?" "oh, I don't know, skink?"
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 7:06 PM on April 5, 2014 [12 favorites]
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 7:06 PM on April 5, 2014 [12 favorites]
I Am A Fugitive From A Cat Truck
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 7:06 PM on April 5, 2014 [9 favorites]
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 7:06 PM on April 5, 2014 [9 favorites]
Great, now I'm going to have to hide my wallet from the cat. He'll be blowing his allowance on catnip macchiatos otherwise.
posted by arcticseal at 7:09 PM on April 5, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by arcticseal at 7:09 PM on April 5, 2014 [3 favorites]
I was picturing a place where you could take your cat so it could have intellectual conversations with other erudite felines. Turns out it's a place where a bunch of cats live, and cat-deprived humans go to pine after them. Sad.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 7:11 PM on April 5, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Kirth Gerson at 7:11 PM on April 5, 2014 [2 favorites]
But I'm allergic! ::cries::
posted by droplet at 7:14 PM on April 5, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by droplet at 7:14 PM on April 5, 2014 [3 favorites]
Apparently the Los Angeles catfe isn't coming soon: the kickstarter campaign failed 5 days ago. Suck.
posted by brambleboy at 7:23 PM on April 5, 2014
posted by brambleboy at 7:23 PM on April 5, 2014
The cat cafe phenomenon is at least one counterargument to the oft-repeated "no original ideas come out of Japan" trope.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:35 PM on April 5, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:35 PM on April 5, 2014 [2 favorites]
Cat cafe is OK, but FERRET cafe would be awesome!
posted by Hazelsmrf at 7:40 PM on April 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Hazelsmrf at 7:40 PM on April 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
Most municipalities have ordinances in place expressly to keep ferrets away from espresso.
posted by sebastienbailard at 7:46 PM on April 5, 2014 [8 favorites]
posted by sebastienbailard at 7:46 PM on April 5, 2014 [8 favorites]
Dip Flash you're harshing my meowllow.
of course, you're very right, though =^.^=
RV Cats would have to start as RV kittens and have the right temperament for it. Like the calm ones used as therapeutic visiting animals.
I do have a paid sabbatical coming up, though, and I always wanted to drive an RV ....
posted by tilde at 7:49 PM on April 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
of course, you're very right, though =^.^=
RV Cats would have to start as RV kittens and have the right temperament for it. Like the calm ones used as therapeutic visiting animals.
I do have a paid sabbatical coming up, though, and I always wanted to drive an RV ....
posted by tilde at 7:49 PM on April 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
For dog lovers there's The Bau Haus cafe in Seoul. Skip to :30 to avoid the set-up and annoying narration.
posted by synthesizer at 7:49 PM on April 5, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by synthesizer at 7:49 PM on April 5, 2014 [2 favorites]
I saw both a puppy cafe and cat cafe in Hongdae in Seoul a year and a half ago.
The cat cafe stands out in my memory because it was immediately below the FUCKFAKE shop. And next door to the Hello Kitty cafe, which was pink.
posted by ardgedee at 7:56 PM on April 5, 2014 [3 favorites]
The cat cafe stands out in my memory because it was immediately below the FUCKFAKE shop. And next door to the Hello Kitty cafe, which was pink.
posted by ardgedee at 7:56 PM on April 5, 2014 [3 favorites]
They're in Seoul, too. Several. Dog cafes as well. Do not want.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 8:11 PM on April 5, 2014
posted by Joseph Gurl at 8:11 PM on April 5, 2014
(ugh. typo search revealed no results for "sseoul," so um shoulda read the comments.)
posted by Joseph Gurl at 8:11 PM on April 5, 2014
posted by Joseph Gurl at 8:11 PM on April 5, 2014
i wanted something like this so i recently started helping out a cat rescue by just cleaning cages, which scratches that itch of being able to interact with a group of cats without being responsible for them in the long haul. in exchange i have to deal with poop, but honestly, after that first overwhelmingly stinky intro, i've adjusted even to that. though i wouldn't recommend this for anyone who has a tendency towards accidental adoption. (for example, i'm steadfastly refusing to adopt this exceptionally snuggly tortie.)
posted by twist my arm at 8:32 PM on April 5, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by twist my arm at 8:32 PM on April 5, 2014 [5 favorites]
You take that guy home right now, twist my arm!
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:19 PM on April 5, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:19 PM on April 5, 2014 [5 favorites]
Last year my husband and I visited a cat cafe on our last day in Seoul. It was meant to be a nice, cute, stress-free way to end our otherwise very awkward trip and waste some time until our flight home. Well, as soon as we sat down a cat came right up to my husband and peed on him. No one in the cafe spoke English and it turns out it's really tough to explain "a cat just peed on me!" and ask for cleaning supplies without knowing the local language. He had to wear cat pee soaked clothes on the 12 hour flight home.
But I'm sure they're a great idea in theory!
posted by joan_holloway at 9:43 PM on April 5, 2014 [9 favorites]
But I'm sure they're a great idea in theory!
posted by joan_holloway at 9:43 PM on April 5, 2014 [9 favorites]
and Lithuania.
Ah yes, the grand city of Lithuania, located in the country of the Baltic, right across the sea from Italy.
posted by Pyrogenesis at 1:40 AM on April 6, 2014 [2 favorites]
Ah yes, the grand city of Lithuania, located in the country of the Baltic, right across the sea from Italy.
posted by Pyrogenesis at 1:40 AM on April 6, 2014 [2 favorites]
There's also one in Cologne which I am hoping to visit for my birthday. I like that it has only four cats and a private room for them to retreat to.
posted by Skybly at 3:02 AM on April 6, 2014
posted by Skybly at 3:02 AM on April 6, 2014
Cat cafes are so dated - now thrill-seekers in Japan go to rabbit cafes and owl cafes.
Someone should open a micropig café. Whether or not there is bacon on the menu would depend on the target market's level of hipster irony.
posted by acb at 3:08 AM on April 6, 2014
Someone should open a micropig café. Whether or not there is bacon on the menu would depend on the target market's level of hipster irony.
posted by acb at 3:08 AM on April 6, 2014
To be followed shortly by allergy fetish clubs.
"Yeah, slave, rub that dander into your goddamn eyes!"
RUB IT!
posted by sonascope at 4:32 AM on April 6, 2014 [4 favorites]
"Yeah, slave, rub that dander into your goddamn eyes!"
RUB IT!
posted by sonascope at 4:32 AM on April 6, 2014 [4 favorites]
Ah yes, the grand city of Lithuania...
Likewise Devon. I looked at that, wondered if it's anywhere near the place I'm moving to and then thought, 'no, it'll be in Totnes, of course', and lo it is. If I see it next time I'm in Totnes I may well stop in, but no expedition is planned at this time.
posted by Lebannen at 6:22 AM on April 6, 2014
Likewise Devon. I looked at that, wondered if it's anywhere near the place I'm moving to and then thought, 'no, it'll be in Totnes, of course', and lo it is. If I see it next time I'm in Totnes I may well stop in, but no expedition is planned at this time.
posted by Lebannen at 6:22 AM on April 6, 2014
We already have one in Singapore, abd they are ready to open another one soon.
posted by the cydonian at 7:23 AM on April 6, 2014
posted by the cydonian at 7:23 AM on April 6, 2014
And none in Cairo? Times really have changed...
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 7:26 AM on April 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 7:26 AM on April 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
You can interact with cats for free in the US by visiting any Petco store, where they have cats available for adoption (and supervised petting). They don't serve coffee, but they don't charge $9 an hour (or any money) for visiting, either. You might be able to bring your own coffee, but I'm not sure about that.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 8:55 AM on April 6, 2014
posted by Kirth Gerson at 8:55 AM on April 6, 2014
And none in Cairo?
They tried having a different version there, where cats could visit captive humans. The enterprise failed due to lack of interest from cats.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 8:58 AM on April 6, 2014
They tried having a different version there, where cats could visit captive humans. The enterprise failed due to lack of interest from cats.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 8:58 AM on April 6, 2014
You have neighbors that will let you play with their cats for free. Of course you do have to talk to your neighbors which I suppose can be too weird.
posted by bukvich at 8:58 AM on April 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by bukvich at 8:58 AM on April 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
Would you say it is a Túrin Purrin-bar?
that was terrible i'm sorry
posted by history_denier at 10:58 AM on April 6, 2014
that was terrible i'm sorry
posted by history_denier at 10:58 AM on April 6, 2014
On one hand, I love this idea. I am a huge cat-softie who will snuggle any feline willing to cooperate — my husband jokes that I come equipped with a CaDAR (cat detecting and ranging) system, given how often I spot cats he doesn't.
On the other hand, we're currently dealing with a flea infestation on our two INDOOR-ONLY cats. Argh. Clearly one of us humans brought the fleas home somehow. And now we're all suffering. So I'm in no-scritching-strange-kitties mode (and hating it).
posted by Lexica at 11:28 AM on April 6, 2014
On the other hand, we're currently dealing with a flea infestation on our two INDOOR-ONLY cats. Argh. Clearly one of us humans brought the fleas home somehow. And now we're all suffering. So I'm in no-scritching-strange-kitties mode (and hating it).
posted by Lexica at 11:28 AM on April 6, 2014
I like that it has only four cats and a private room for them to retreat to.
I can't help but think this sounds a bit...hinkey.
posted by BlueHorse at 4:27 PM on April 6, 2014
I can't help but think this sounds a bit...hinkey.
posted by BlueHorse at 4:27 PM on April 6, 2014
Clearly one of us humans brought the fleas home somehow.
Not necessarily. Squirrels, mice and birds all get fleas.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 4:49 PM on April 6, 2014
Not necessarily. Squirrels, mice and birds all get fleas.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 4:49 PM on April 6, 2014
Hey, why not just open up a cafe in a petting zoo? Why not put restaurants in lion pens? Why not open up a juice bar next to an eagle's nest?
posted by ChuckRamone at 11:20 AM on April 7, 2014
posted by ChuckRamone at 11:20 AM on April 7, 2014
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posted by tilde at 6:52 PM on April 5, 2014 [3 favorites]