A look at a phenomena that spread from Asia, after-the-jump ...
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Regular readers of mine are familiar with my affinity for cats … yet when reading about the popularity of cat cafés, are not altogether aware of the reasons for them (if the article did not explain them well). So, a short primer.
A cat café is a public venue where (usually for an hourly fee) patrons can enjoy a coffee or tea and pastries … while in the vicinity of various felines of the house. One is admonished not to try to pick-up any of them … but many will gravitate towards you, anyway. It’s a way for patrons to have a chance to interact with pets with no obligation and also to provide stress relief. Regulations vary, depending upon the level of food service and local ordinances.
These venues began in Taiwan in 1998, and quickly spread to the large cities of eastern Asia: Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok and Singapore. The impetus was that many people live in high-rise apartment buildings where landlords either do not allow pets …. or charge an-arm-and-two-legs for breakage deposit. While adoptions are indeed possible, it was not the original concept.
By contrast: those in the West are (often) in partnership with an SPCA, Humane Society or other animal shelter to facilitate adoptions. Many shelters are outside of cities or towns … due to concerns about barking dog noise complaints. Cat cafés are often on (or near) main streets, in order to generate vital foot traffic.
As noted, regulations vary by locality. I went to my high school reunion in 2019, and visited a cat café that morning. I was the only one there at 11:00 AM, and so had a chance to chat at-length with the employee on-duty (who had an older brother who attended my high school years after my graduation). She noted that a cat with a red collar often had a traumatic life before being given to a shelter, so to be cautious around them.
As they had limited food in the cat room (wrapped donuts, coffee cakes, etc.) and a Keurig coffee/tea brewer, the regulations are less onerous, I was told. Since I visited there, it seems they have subsequently added a more elaborate café operation — behind a large window, for those who are allergic or simply want to look from a distance.
The cat café that I visited
One particular venue of note: a Chicagoland facility that features only cats with Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), so that a cat cannot be infected anew, and these cats are often harder to adopt.
Let’s close with this Al Stewart classic from 1976.
Now, on to Top Comments:
From thesphynx :
In the diary by annielli about the 11th Circuit’s ruling — newreign's beautiful summary in crayons of the simple legal issues surrounding 45's appropriation of government documents.
And from Ed Tracey, your faithful correspondent this evening ........
In the diary by sfbob about the October home football game for the University of Massachusetts, when they host Liberty University on the campus Pride Day — this comment made by mabon.
Next - enjoy jotter's wonderful (and now eternal) *PictureQuilt™* below. Just click on the picture and it will magically take you to the comment featuring that photo.
TOP PHOTOS
September 21st, 2022
(NOTE: Any missing images in the Quilt were removed because (a) they were from an unapproved source that somehow snuck through in the comments, or (b) it was an image from the DailyKos Image Library which didn't have permissions set to allow others to use it.) |
And lastly: yesterday's Top Mojo - mega-mojo to the intrepid mik ...... who rescued this feature from oblivion:
