OPENING ALERT: North America's First Cat Café Opens This Saturday in Montreal

[cassiesmom]

Wish I was closer to Montreal!

I'll get on the train in Chicago, meet you in Michigan and we will continue on to Trenton!

[phesina]

I'll get on the train in Chicago, meet you in Michigan and we will continue on to Trenton!

Oooooh, what a great trip! Can't wait!!!

[cassiesmom]

From answers.com - Five cat cafés you will want to visit

Cat cafés first started popping up in Japan. In a country where many apartment buildings don't allow cats, these cafés became very popular as a way for Japanese cat lovers to get their kitty fix in a relaxing environment.

Cat cafés are a win not just for cat lovers, but also for the cats who reside in these establishments. Living at the café allows the cats, who usually come from shelters, to live in a cage-free environment with plenty of human attention and interaction. Most cat cafés have rules for visitors that include not disturbing the cats while they're sleeping, no rough handling by visiting children, no flash photography, and no feeding.

Cat cafés opened around the world in the last few years. Russia, Austria, Korea, France and many others all boast their own cat cafés. Intrigued? These five cat cafés are worth visiting.


Kaffee Katzentempel, Munich, Germany

Munich's Cafe Katzentempel, which translates to "temple of cats," was the first cat café to open in Germany. This beautifully designed café offers a large variety of coffee and tea drinks and vegan fare ranging from breakfast dishes to light lunches to desserts.


Café Neko, Vienna, Austria

Five rescue cats welcome visitors to this Austrian coffeehouse, which serves homemade cakes and pastries, Japanese tea, and juices from local farms. Hidden on a small street in the center of Vienna, this oasis of quiet is a favorite for locals and tourists alike.



Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium, London, England

Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium is set to open later this year. This café will offer visitors an opportunity to enjoy a British tea while relaxing in a setting designed to meet the emotional and physical needs of its feline residents.


St. Petersburg Cat Republic, St. Petersburg, Russia

Before entering the Cat Republic, guests are asked to " apply for a visa," although no one gets turned down. Guests are asked to observe simple rules when interacting with the cats, such as washing their hands before touching the cats. The main rule is to never force the cats to interact with visitors, because the citizens of the republic are free cats.

Calico Cat Café, Tokyo, Japan

Japan boasts the largest number of cat cafés of any country in the world. Café Calico is so popular that reservations are recommended on weekends. Visitors are provided with an ID card and a set of rules. The café is host to young couples on dates, older married couples making an afternoon of it and young women in ones and twos, all present to enjoy the company of the resident cats.


Later this year, the first cat cafés in North America are scheduled to open: Café Chat L'Heureux will welcome visitors in Montreal, Canada, and Kit Tea will provide a feline haven in San Francisco.