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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Cat cafe

33 replies

Libertyshepirouette · 20/12/2017 14:06

What do you think of cat cafes?One is opening near me in the new year.I love cats but wonder if the cats would be happy.

OP posts:
TheSecondOfHerName · 20/12/2017 14:32

I haven't been to one but have read about them. Coexisting with multiple other cats in the same territory? Having a constant stream of strangers entering that territory? It makes me wonder how the cats cope with it. Perhaps they only use particularly chilled, laid-back cats.

TheSecondOfHerName · 20/12/2017 14:50

If you love cats, look up local cat shelters and see if any of them need volunteers. At the NAWT shelter near me, volunteers come in regularly to sit with the cats and give them attention.

Toddlerteaplease · 20/12/2017 15:20

Do you live in Leeds op? If so, the one opening there is run by the same people as the one in Nottingham. I'm not over keen on the idea but the cats are very well cared for. It's expensive though. £5 just to get in, and you can only stay an hour. If I didn't have my own cats, I'd probably go there more often to get my fix.

onlyonaTuesday · 20/12/2017 15:22

The one in Manchester is great.
It’s £12 for a hour but you get free drinks with that.
It’s lovely watching the cats.
There is always information on individual cats and things about the animal shelter.

TheSecondOfHerName · 20/12/2017 15:32

The RSPCA, Cats Protection and Celia Hammond have spoken out in opposition of the idea.

Original poster
Libertyshepirouette · 20/12/2017 16:31

I have cats myself.
I was interested in the cat cafe opening up as I can't resist stroking cats in the street,and the thought of a cat cafe appealed but only if the cats were happy.
Toddlerteaplease no I am not near Leeds.
The cat cafe is opening in Liverpool.It is going to be run by the Manchester cat cafe people.
I wonder how many cat cafes there are ?(off to Google)
I am just undecided if it's a good thing.

OP posts:
Weedsnseeds1 · 20/12/2017 16:41

We have this in our nearest city!
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-bristol-34871580

DaisyDando · 20/12/2017 16:43

I’ve been to one in London and I liked it a lot. But I’m not sure it is the right thing.

TheSecondOfHerName · 20/12/2017 16:47

I've looked at the website for the one in Manchester and they seem to have arrangements to help the cats feel comfortable:
-no children under 10
-no touching a cat who is sleeping
-cats have their own private space they can access at any time
-cats have a ceiling run they can access to get above it all

I still have my reservations about the concept though.

LivingInMidnight · 20/12/2017 16:57

One opened near me fairly recently. I have reservations too. I've had many cats and I can't think of one that would have been ok with a constant stream of strangers.

Original poster
Libertyshepirouette · 20/12/2017 20:16

Thesecondofhername I think that's a good idea and I will look into it thanks.
Apparently in 2016 there were 9 cat cafes in the uk and more new ones opening.

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 20/12/2017 21:41

My friend lives in Liverpool and got very offended when I suggested we should go to it. He wanted to know what was wrong with having coffee and cake at his house with his Cat!

tabulahrasa · 21/12/2017 07:07

I've been to one, I describe it as paying to be ignored by other cats... I'm still going, but I can be ignored by my cat for free...

Welfare wise, there's no forcing the cats to do anything, it's very much a case of cats hanging about being cats and people watching them as if they don't feel like interacting they're all up in cat trees or high walkways or through in the space that the public can't access...

christmasrage · 21/12/2017 07:22

They choose the cats from rescues that assess their temperaments, if I remember correctly. Presumably a mixture of ages, so there are some young skittish ones. I'd be interested in the turnover of cats, if anyone has been long enough to notice, and whether anyone keeps track. Do cats get turfed out for being too standoffish, or getting feisty with customers?

christmasrage · 21/12/2017 07:24

The person who opened the one near me didn't have a cat herself, and had some odd finance history- though I didn't know her well enough to hear the details.

hesterton · 21/12/2017 07:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

christmasrage · 21/12/2017 07:29

This suggests they are not so bad...

theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/articles/making-paw-sitive-changes-the-best-cat-cafes-in-the-uk/

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 21/12/2017 08:46

I've been to one in London and enjoyed it. The cats seemed relaxed, there were strict rules about what guests can and can't do and there are plenty of places for the cats to get out of the way - cubby holes and high places.

christmasrage · 21/12/2017 09:05

Right, I'm going. New Year treat.

TheSecondOfHerName · 21/12/2017 09:40

I'd be interested in the turnover of cats

Hopefully minimal, as every time a new cat is introduced to the colony it's going to increase stress.

TheSecondOfHerName · 21/12/2017 09:41

I'm surprised rescues release their cats to cat cafes. It sounds a potentially very stressful position to put a cat in.

I think they mostly get them from breeders.

Ofthread · 21/12/2017 09:45

Where I live there is a cat pub. Not an official cat pub but a pub with lots of cats in it. They are the most chilled out cats, they are gorgeous. They were all born there. They are not friendly cats but they tolerate stroking, they prefer to sit around in their boxes, they don’t sit on laps. I don’t think they are stressed at all.

TheSecondOfHerName · 21/12/2017 09:47

Although it sounds like a lovely idea to be able to adopt a cat from a cat café, it then means that another cat will be replacing it, causing upheaval for the current residents as they adjust to the newcomer.

TheSecondOfHerName · 21/12/2017 09:48

Ofthread that sounds like a natural colony who happen to live in a pub, so the cats will be quite used to each other.

Fekko · 21/12/2017 09:52

How many cats? So you get the money back if they are all sculking in the back? How do they stop them running out the door or someone trying to sneak one out in their bag? What do you say if you get a hair in your tea? What if one bites you?

I love cats but animals can be a pain in for are eating and they decide that you are drinking out of their cup!

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