Cat cafés are multiplying all over the world. Although these establishments are novel to the United States, they are not to other countries. In 1998, the first cat café opened in Taipei, Taiwan. Six years later, Osaka, Japan, became the second city to boast a cat café. North America did not see its first cat café until 2014, with the first one opening in Montreal.
Even though Taiwan was the first country to have a cat café, Japan now has the most cat cafes in the eastern hemisphere. These businesses have thrived in Japan which now has 150 (35 of which are in Tokyo), One reason for their popularity in Japan is because many residents live in apartments that are often too small to accommodate pets, or pets are not allowed. However, these cafés are becoming popular in the U.S. As of May 2024, there are 220 cat cafés in the U.S. (triple the amount of these establishments that were present in 2018).
Although the concept of cat cafés intrigued me, I never went to one in Indianapolis (where I live) until I was invited to talk about my book (My One-Eyed, Three-Legged Therapist: How My Cat Clio Saved Me) at the Smitten Kitten. I held the misconception that these establishments were merely places where people who might not be able to have a cat could enjoy feline companionship. Since I received plenty of feline attention from my cats and didn’t want any more cats on the table sniffing my food or trying to drink my water, I didn’t see the need to visit one. I also had read that there were some downsides to cat cafés for cats. Specifically, because cats can’t mark their territory in these cafés because there are many cats, they become territorial and the cats can suffer from stress and conflict.
However, until I visited the Smitten Kitten to do a book talk, I had no idea the role they played in cat rescue and adoption, and this role may overshadow any downsides to the cafés. Well-run cat cafés have a separate, large area for the cats, and those who visit the business can enter the cat area to play and enjoy the cats. Parents who are thinking of adopting a cat can bring their child to the café to find an appropriate feline. Cat cafés also host birthday parties so the invited guests can enjoy cats, and the birthday child can pick out their birthday present (i.e., a cat).
The Smitten Kitten is located in Fishers, Indiana (just north of Indianapolis). That café opened on January 28, 2023. Since its opening, it has been responsible for the adoption of over 460 cats. Its mission is to reduce the numbers of homeless and abandoned animals. Cats from local shelters are placed in a “playful, stress-free environment” with no cages. They have plenty of toys, and even a full-size faux tree inside the cat area. After going to the Smitten Kitten to give my book talk, I realized that the café is not only a wonderful place to enjoy a beverage and light snack while watching the cats romp and play, but also to enjoy the companionship of cats and potentially find your new best friend.
So, if you are thinking of adopting a cat, you might want to visit a cat café since they house animals from local shelters and you will be able to spend some time with your new feline to make sure you have chosen the one with the right personality for you. Moreover, you will be supporting another form of cat adoption and rescue.
