Cruel Cat Cafes?

They started off in The Orient, China being renowned for its handbag dogs and cat obsession.

Now the idea of food halls, cafes and and other such places where people can go and interact with a small army of domesticated cats whilst drinking their coffee and eating lunch, is an idea that is quickly spreading across Europe.

Animal rights charities are not so convinced, Cats Protection, for instance, have condemned such themed premises as being too ‘stressful’ for felines.

An application for a cat cafe Koneko has been opposed in Brighton, England.

The Cats Protection Charity Director, Maggie Roberts has been reported by the BBC in saying that cats are usually solitary hunters, and can be stressed when being in forced close proximity with their own kind.

That and just because paying customers expect to be able to stroke a cat, doesn’t necessarily mean the cat will want stroking.

Jon Ely and Keri Craddock the minds behind Koneko in Brighton have defended their concept sating that cats will be able to escape high up in the event of stress, a cat ceiling space if you will.

This is a natural concept for cats, they enjoy being above the action looking down.

The UK’s first cat café was opened in Devon in May without any objection from local animal charities, another is due to open in Shoreditch after planning permission approval was granted.

So it seems you may be seeing more cat cafes in a town near you in the up and coming future, is it something you think meets a niche in the market?

Being able to enjoy the presence of pets without dedicating your life to it may mean stop people taking on animals that later they won’t have time for and will end up neglected, or having to be re-homed.

Or is it just another business gimmick that takes advantage of cats and the pockets of the compassionate?