Some cats can be real assholes. My childhood cat Tim (yes, I named him) was one particularly difficult asshole and refused to let me pick him up. I was permitted to pat him for 5 minutes before he would turn and snarl. Still, I loved that stupid cat.
If you're in need of some cat affection there is a glorious place on earth that allows you to indulge in all your feline focused obsessions - the cat cafe. Tokyo city is littered with them, and now they're spreading slowly beyond Japan. Refer below to the amazing google cat map:
When visiting a neko (Japanese for cat) cafe you can soak in the 'catmosphere' (sorry, couldn't resist) and pet, preen and hang out with some of the most adorable and high maintenance feline furries you've ever seen. That said, you're going to have to fight the locals, and win cats over with delicious snacks and soothing words.
Visiting a cat cafe will cost you, with most charging upwards of $15 per hour. You'll be encouraged to buy snacks on the premise of winning the cats love, as well as warm drinks and treats for yourself to indulge in the cafe spirit. You'll see couples on dates, people whiling away a lazy afternoon, and photography enthusiasts, eagerly snapping away pictures. Somehow I imagined people like crazy Eleanor, the cat freak, from The Simpsons darting around and feverishly patting the cats. To my disappointment the punters were rather normal - most sat around, completely blissed out staring at the cats.
Housing in Tokyo is small, a lot of apartments have pet bans, and less and less people are having children. As a result, cat cafes have become a welcome place to share love and affection. Upon entering a cafe you normally put your bag in a locker, sanitise your hands and get an ID card to wear, to prove you're not some crazy cat thief. The cafe owners expect you to be nothing but cordial to the cats, you're not to wake them when they're sleeping, or pick up tiny kittens. All in all, you get the feeling they have a happy life.
The cats are often pedigree, some costing thousands of dollars. Some cafes are especially for abandoned cats, which is rather heart warming. With daily doses of affection, most cats know they're special, so don't be dismayed if you end up rejected from a particularly sassy neko. They also sleep. A lot. Some are divas. Some may scratch. It all makes for an interesting experience.
The first time I visited a cat cafe, I nearly wet my pants with excitement. The cats! The enthralled Japanese people! The word 'kaaaaawaaaaiiii' (cute) being said every 15 seconds! It was a totally awesome experience. (C)at last! This was a place to indulge in unbridled cat obsession. If you find yourself in Tokyo, you know what to do...
Calico (Shinjuku and Kichijoji)
Caterium (Shimokitazawa)
Nekorobi (Ikebukero)
Curl Up cafe (Meguro)
Asakusa Neko-en (Asakusa)
Here is an excellent video from The Guardian.
Here is some highly appropriate cat imagery to get you in the Cat Cafe mood:
Comments