Cat cafes

[ocelot41]

I have had a hell of a week so booked a session in a cat cafe today. I think I romanticised it - one hour to myself with tea, cake and a purring cat. It wasnt like that at all.

The cats looked well looked after, the place had been wholly cattified, so there were plenty of spaces for them to get up high, sleep or hide, and sessions were limited in numbers and time. Therewas also a vet present to remove any cats showing signs of stress.

BUT I only saw one cat who seemed happy to be on the end of so much attention. All that stroking and not one single purr. I didn't feel good about it and I don't think I will go back.

Have anyone else had experiences of cat cafes? What do you think of them?

Maybe I should hire mine out... I'll make the cake and a brew and you can be pestered by noisy, purring, head bopping kneading cat for an hour?
I think it's the same as everything, there's good and bad places

Hollinhurst. I thought it looked a pretty well run place actually. But I saw cars often ducking away from strokes and some went off to hide. Which made me feel . Cake was good tho

Op I agree completely. There is one in my city. They act as a rehoming centre as well as having permanent residents. Yes the cats can escape but I felt they were massively over stimulated and couldn't just curl up in peace for a snooze without having people crowding round them. I didn't think it was much of a life for the residents. No outside space at all. I also felt having to pay £5 just to get in was a bit much, and wasn't impressed st being constantly reminded that my time was almost up.

Hollihurst you can hire Ollie out to me any time. I love vocal cats

Yep, there is our answer!

I've always thought these places are very bad idea. Anyone who charges to see an animal is exploiting them and only doing it for the cash, not for the welfare of the animal. I wouldn't go near one of them.

I went to Lady Dinah's a couple of years ago and it was better than I was expecting. The cats had plenty of stimulation and there were loads of places up high where they could sleep. Sadly my bag wasn't big enough to sneak Wookie out!

I went to the london cat village - loved it! I agree that they are not the place to go if you want to stroke the cats for long periods of time, they have probably had enough of that after a while! But I enjoyed watching them play/giving them treats and feeling their fur (so soft )
I would definitely go back, the atmosphere was just so relaxing.