Pets are suddenly making their presence felt on the on the high street in unexpected ways. Last week it was reported that Pets at Home had opened a premium shop for dogs in Cheshire. However, one area in which one would not traditionally expect to find our furry friends is the hospitality sector – until now.
Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium, in Bethnal Green, has combined coffee and cats to great effect, with customers pouring through the doors in order to enjoy the unique atmosphere.
In fact, co-owners Lauren Pears and Anna Kogan now have to take reservations weeks in advance, with spaces at the café fully booked up until July after a flood of interested consumers crashed the company website seeking an opportunity to visit.
The concept behind the cat café is relatively simple; customers visiting order their coffee and snack, then spend the time until their order is ready playing with and petting the café’s furry residents. Cats benefit from an outpouring of affection from visitors, but can retreat to a private area behind a bookcase if they want a break from the constant attention.
Yet this is not solely a novelty café with a twist, as there is a charitable aspect too. The cats at Lady Dinah’s are all rescue pets, and are guaranteed a “forever home” thanks to the financial income of the café providing for them.
Ms Kogan, an animal welfare organisation founder originally from Russia, believes that the business provides a valuable opportunity to interact with the cats for those who cannot have pets in London.
She says; “The cats are from owners who were either moving country or just didn’t want the animals any more.
“Lauren started this as she missed interaction with cats in London and couldn’t have a pet due to circumstances.
“It has been very overwhelming to attract so much support from people – it is important to have a business that actually adds something positive to people’s lives.”
While the concept may still be something of a novelty here in the UK, cat cafes have actually been a profitable part of the international hospitality industry for some time now. Japan currently remains the world leader for cat cafes, with the first opening in Osaka 10 years ago and swiftly spreading throughout the country – in fact, most major cities in the country have at least one “coffee with a cat” outlet still in operation.
With the huge success of Lady Dinah’s it seems likely that more of these cafes will open in the future, providing cats with attention and relieving pressure upon animal rescue charities nationwide.
