Cuddly Cafés

At a small café in London, I enjoyed tea and delicate finger sandwiches. But the café offered more than fancy food—there were a dozen cats to play with.

At Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium, fluffy felines roam about. They leap on shelves, play with toys, or nap in baskets. It’s one of the many animal cafés that have popped up all over the world in recent years. 

I went to a small café in London. I drank tea and ate delicate finger sandwiches. But the café offered more than fancy food. There were also a dozen cats to play with.

The café is called Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium. Fluffy felines roam about the room. They leap on shelves. They play with toys. They nap in baskets. Lady Dinah’s is one of many animal cafés. These cafés have opened up all over the world in recent years. 

The trend began in 1998, when Taiwan opened its first cat café. Since then, the idea has taken off. The animals can vary widely. You can sip tea with cats, dogs, raccoons, owls, rabbits, hedgehogs, and even snakes!

At these cafés, visitors can pet the animals, feed them treats, or play with them. Some places even let patrons rent critters to go for walks in nearby parks. The animals’ comfort and safety is a priority, with many cafés enforcing strict rules. For example, visitors have to wash their hands before touching the animals. And sleeping animals can’t be disturbed. 

“We’re very strict on ‘the cats do as they please’ policy,” says Jenny Smith from Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium. Even so, “we love seeing how happy people are when the cats jump on laps and pay them a visit.”

The trend began in 1998. That was the year Taiwan opened its first cat café. Since then, the idea has taken off. The animals can vary widely. You can cuddle with cats and dogs. You can sip tea with raccoons and owls. You can eat with rabbits and hedgehogs. You can even hold snakes!

Visitors at these cafés can pet the animals. They can also feed them treats or play with them. Some places even let patrons rent critters. They can take them on walks in nearby parks. The animals’ comfort and safety is a priority. Many cafés enforce strict rules. For example, visitors have to wash their hands before touching the animals. Sleeping animals can’t be disturbed.

“We’re very strict on ‘the cats do as they please’ policy,” says Jenny Smith from Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium. Even so, “we love seeing how happy people are when the cats jump on laps and pay them a visit.”