6 Cat Cafes to Visit Around the World

Photo Source: Flickr MsSaraKelly

Did you know June 4th is National Hug Your Cat Day? Don’t have a cat or traveling away from your feline friend? No worries! We’ve rounded up some of the coolest cat cafes around the world you can visit any day of the year.

The Cat Café, San Diego

If you’re in Southern California, you’re likely only a short drive away from The Cat Café in downtown San Diego. Purchase something to eat and you get free entrance to the cat playpen, otherwise you’ll have to pay the $5 entry fee to play with the kitties here. Find a cat that you can’t imagine leaving behind? The Cat Café partners with the local Humane Society to help get some of the kitties adopted.

Meow Parlour, New York City

If you’re in New York City, head to Chinatown to check out the Meow Parlour. It was the first cat café to open in the city. Here you can make a reservation to ensure you get quality kitty time. Enjoy delicious pastries then head to the cat room to hang out - $4 per half hour or fork over $30 for the maximum 5-hours of playtime.

Café & Cats 1998, Taipei

Taipei is credited as the birthplace of the cat café craze. Cat Flower Garden opened in 1998 as a tiny spot, aimed to be a spot for Taipei residents to unwind after a long day of work. Today, it’s called Café & Cats 1998, and is home to 14 cats and three dogs. It is believed that since many landlords in Taiwan do not allow pets, locals fell in love with the idea of interacting with animals when they could not do so at home, and it probably doesn’t hurt that cats are lucky in Chinese culture.

Café Neko, Vienna

If you’re visiting Austria, stop in the popular Café Neko in Vienna. The café is named after the Japanese word for cat and you’ll find some interesting felines here – especially the Maine Coons, which are shaggy cats that can grow up to weigh 25 pounds! Enjoy homemade pastries, hot teas and coffees, and send some "catsagrams" to your friends with the Café Neko’s free Wi-Fi.

Neko No Jikan, Osaka

Japan has certainly helped propel the popularity of global cat café culture. Tokyo is home to a staggering number of cat cafes, and you’ll even find them in other parts of the country, like Neko No Jikan in Osaka. They claim to be the first cat café in Japan. The layout is pretty impressive, but it is one of the pricier options with patrons even having to pay for the use of toys.

Le Café des Chats, Paris

Yes, you’ll even find cat cafes in cities like Paris. Le Café des Chats opened in 2013 and their kitties come from local animal welfare groups. Le Café des Chats donates a portion of their profits to feline protection organizations. The cats at Le Café des Chats are residents of the café and are not up for adoption, unlike some other cafes around the world. Reservations are accepted and recommended if you plan to visit on a weekend or holiday.

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