Paw things! Charity calls for boycott to curb Taiwan’s cat cafe craze where animals are petted ‘whether they want it or not’
- Cat Protection said it wants to see cat cafes ‘phased out’ in the UK
Charities are calling on animal lovers to stop visiting cat cafes.
Cats Protection has said it wants to see cat cafes ‘phased out’ as data shows more than 50 are now operating or soon to open their doors in the UK.
The craze for cat cafes is thought to have started in Taiwan 25 years ago, but they became more associated with Japan and are now extremely popular all over the world.
The charity says cats living in rowdy cafes have no place to escape unwanted human contact, and many are under extreme stress from being around a changing population of other cats.
In the worst cases, they are constantly petted and picked up while trying to sleep, and show signs of anxiety such as not eating properly or overeating.
Charities are calling on animal lovers to stop visiting cat cafes. Pictured: File photo of a cat sitting on a cafe table
The RSPCA is also urging people not to visit cat cafes and to obtain a license under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations for England. In the photo: a cat being petted in a cat cafe
The RSPCA is also urging people not to visit cat cafes and to obtain a license under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations for England.
Daniel Warren-Cummings, behavior officer for Cats Protection, said: ‘From a cat welfare point of view, it would be a very good idea for cat cafes to be phased out.
“These cats are indoors only and have no outdoor space where they can retreat from human contact or the noisy chatter of a cafe.
“While some cafes are very good with signs telling people not to approach cats when they are sleeping, some people who have paid money to go to a cat cafe will naturally want to pet a cat – whether the cat wants to be petted or not . not.’
The craze for cat cafes is thought to have started in Taiwan 25 years ago, but they became more associated with Japan and are now extremely popular all over the world. File photo of a woman petting a cat in a cat cafe
Cats are highly territorial, and most of their stress comes from being around other cats, according to animal welfare experts — especially when those cats aren’t their siblings.”
Samantha Watson, Research Fellow at the RSPCA, said: ‘The RSPCA is concerned about the welfare of cats in pubs, which is likely to be a major source of stress for many.
“At present, most cat cafes are not licensed under the Animal Welfare Regulations or do not fall under those standards and so we advise people not to visit them.
“Instead, we recommend that cat lovers volunteer with a cat rescue organization.”