Animal cafe
{{Short description|Café where customers can interact with animals}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
An animal café, also known as a pet café, is a place where people can see and interact with various animals such as cats, dogs, rabbits, owls, or sheep while they enjoy the food and drinks.{{Cite news|url=https://tg.tripadvisor.jp/news/advice/catcafe-world/ |title=実は台湾が発祥！アジアから世界に広がる猫カフェ巡り}} The first animal café was a cat cafe established in 1998 in Taiwan.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20120402-worldwide-weird-feline-fun-in-japans-cat-cafes|title=Feline fun in Japan's cat cafes|last=Galloway|first=Lindsey|language=en|access-date=24 September 2018}} Since then a number of cafes for various animals have been established globally and become increasingly popular.
History
Taiwan created the very first animal café in 1998 which was a cat cafe. Thereafter, animal cafes were created in Japan before spreading to the rest of the world. A Japanese tourist visited Taiwan and discovered the potential of the idea before coming back to Japan to establish the first animal café in Osaka in 2004, where the concept flourished.{{Cite news|url=http://bearwallowcafe.com/origin-cat-cafes-benefits-cats-humans/|title=The Origin of Cat Cafes and Their Benefits to Cats and Humans – Bearwallowcafe|date=12 September 2017|work=Bearwallowcafe|access-date=24 September 2018|language=en-US}} Today animal cafes are found across Europe and America yet they are still more popular in Asian countries and Japan is known as the country with the most animal cafes in the world. Originally the cafes were created for people who enjoy the company of animals however there are now many animal cafes for abandoned or lost animals as well. Such animal cafes are used as a way to help these abandoned or lost animals by providing them not only home and food but also the opportunity to be adopted by customers of the café.{{Cite news|url=https://www.canidae.com/blog/2017/10/what-are-animal-cafes/|title=What are Animal Cafés?|work=Canidae|access-date=15 October 2018|language=en-us|archive-date=2 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402151703/https://www.canidae.com/blog/2017/10/what-are-animal-cafes/|url-status=dead}}
Types
As individuals prefer different animals, there are a number of various animal cafes in the world.
= Cat café =
File:Laika_ac_Cat_Cafe_(7641734462).jpg
{{main|Cat café}}
Cat cafés are one of the most common animal cafes, perhaps due to the popularity of cats as pets. A number of different types of cats can be found at cat cafés. Sometimes cats are allowed in all public areas of the cafe but in other cases there is a separate play area where people can play with the cats.{{Cite news|url=https://theconversation.com/australias-first-cat-cafe-stroke-of-genius-or-needless-fluff-26811|title=Australia's first cat cafe: stroke of genius or needless fluff?|last=Overell|first=Rosemary|work=The Conversation|access-date=15 October 2018|language=en}}
Some cat cafes have cats which are available for adoption, such as those which were strays.
= Dog café =
A dog café is another very common animal café. A dog café is more active, noisy, and filled with motion compared to a cat café due to the characteristics of dogs.
Like a cat café, a dog café also provides an adoption system to customers who have the ability to raise them. The dog café can be seen as a sanctuary providing a good experience for customers to make a connection with abandoned dogs, and they probably adopt dogs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.smartertravel.com/cutest-animal-cafes/|title=9 Cutest Animal Cafes Around the World {{!}} SmarterTravel|date=20 July 2017|work=SmarterTravel|access-date=24 September 2018|language=en-US}}
There is a dog café in Los Angeles that has the goal of finding the perfect home for shelter dogs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.foodnetwork.ca/fun-with-food/photos/crazy-international-animal-cafes/#!groundsnhounds1-e1425489181234|title=15 Insane Animal Cafés Around the World {{!}} Food Network Canada|work=foodnetwork.ca|access-date=24 September 2018|language=en-US}} Customers enjoy the time with dogs and, potentially, become a new owner of shelter dogs.
= Raccoon café =
File:Raccoon_(Procyon_lotor)_2.jpg
A more unusual form of animal café is the raccoon café. There is a raccoon café in South Korea in which people can play with raccoons while they drink and eat the food. Because this café is divided into two rooms, people can choose to play with a raccoon or just enjoy their food and drinks.{{Cite news|title=Animal Cafes Around Seoul|date=2 April 2017|work=myHUBS|language=en-US}} Because raccoons have sharp claws and teeth, there is a warning that the café is not responsible for any damage from raccoons.
= Hedgehog café =
In 2016, a hedgehog café was opened in Tokyo for the first time in the world. Because of the strangeness, many foreigners have visited the café. At the same time, some people criticize this café from a viewpoint of animal protection.[https://www.mag2.com/p/news/177723 東京ヤバイ。世界初「ハリネズミカフェ」に海外から賛否両論]
= Sheep café =
There is a sheep café in South Korea which is established in 2011. This café is the first sheep café in the world which has two sheep named Sugar and Honey. It is allowed to feed them some food.{{Cite web|url=http://danielfooddiary.com/2017/10/21/thanksnaturecafe/|title=Thanks Nature Café - Sheep Cafe at Hongdae Seoul, For A Baa-Baa-ly Good Time - DanielFoodDiary.com|last=admin|website=danielfooddiary.com|language=en-GB|access-date=24 September 2018}} People can watch the sheep as they enjoy their meal. However, the sheep don't stay at the café during the summer season due to weather issues.
= Rabbit café =
A rabbit café is located in Japan. Most rabbits are not wandering around like other cats and dogs at cafés but they are often kept in their cages. However, this café sometimes provides a chance to walk around a nearby place with rabbits.{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2017/08/10/animal-cafes/553884001/|title=Nine cutest animal cafes around the world|work=USA TODAY|access-date=24 September 2018|language=en}} A rabbit café by the name of "Bunny Cafe" exists in Kraków, Poland.
= Bird café =
There are a few different kinds of bird cafés in Japan such as owls, parrots, falcons, hawks, etc.{{Cite news|url=https://whereintokyo.com/dbinx/animalcafe.html|title=Animal cafes|work=WhereInTokyo.com|access-date=24 September 2018|language=en}} They are not dangerous and do not attack people because they are well trained by the staff. The staff show customers the way they handle and feed the birds in a safe way. Also, people can take a picture with the birds if they have permission from the staff.{{Cite web|url=https://whereintokyo.com/venues/25492.html|title=Akiba Fukurou: Akihabara|website=WhereInTokyo.com|language=en|access-date=15 October 2018}}
= Reptile café =
In Cambodia, there is a famous reptile café in which people can see a number of different species of reptiles and arachnids such as turtles, snakes, iguanas, and spiders. People can relax, eat, drink, and learn about a number of different species of animals at the café. They can also take pictures with a variety of reptiles. The owner opened up this café in 2018 with permission from Cambodia's Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Agriculture.{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/reptile-coffee-inside-cambodia-cafe-offering-firsthand-exotic/story?id=57645976|title=Inside the Cambodia coffee shop where you can hang out with reptiles|date=8 September 2018|website=ABC News|language=en|access-date=29 October 2018}} He regards the animal welfare as the primary concern at the café.
= Capybara café =
In 2020, Capyneko Café was opened in Kichijōji, Tokyo, serving as both a capybara and cat café. Currently, two capybara cafés exist in Japan, Capyneko Café and Capy Café, both of which are located in Tokyo. Outside of Japan, a capybara café was opened in St. Augustine, Florida in 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-30 |title=Capybara Cafe with real Capybaras to open in St. Aug! |url=https://www.wokv.com/entertainment/capybara-cafe-with-real-capybaras-open-st-aug/LC7WK7YRMZEVNG2OB3Z3D6USKE/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=104.5 WOKV |language=en}} Due to capybaras being semiaquatic mammals, concerns have arisen over their welfare.{{Cite web |last=Mizhelle |date=2023-08-04 |title=A Day at Tokyo's Capybara & Cat Cafe: Capyneko in Kichijoji |url=https://tokyopast3.com/capyneko/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Tokyo Past 3 |language=en-US}}
Controversy
There are several arguments objecting animal cafés, mostly from a viewpoint of animal protection.
- Some animal experts say that animal cafés might provide some positive effects to animals, but they are more likely to encourage people to buy animals than pay attention to animal welfare.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jan/03/conservationists-get-their-talons-out-for-japans-owl-cafes|title=Conservationists get their talons out for Japan's owl cafes|last=Kerr|first=Millie|date=3 January 2017|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=15 October 2018}}
- Some people argue that the way the animal cafes operate their business is very harmful to animal safety because some animals are not quite suited for the lifestyle at the café.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-37199653|title=Are cat cafes good for cats?|last=Bates|first=Claire|date=13 September 2016|work=BBC News|access-date=15 October 2018|language=en-GB}}
- Some visitors of animal cafes in Japan express their concerns for the safety and welfare of the birds.{{Cite news|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3282953/owl-cafes-in-japan-draw-ire-of-animal-safety-activists/|title=Owl cafes in Japan draw ire of animal safety activists|work=Global News|access-date=26 September 2018|language=en}}
- Japanese animal rights activists also argue that bird cafes abuse birds for the entertainment of humans.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/08/outrage-over-japans-owl-cafs/|title=Outrage over Japan'sowl cafés'|last=Ryall|first=Julian|date=8 September 2016|work=The Telegraph|access-date=15 October 2018|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}} As a result, the Japanese government passed a much stricter Animal Protection Law which strengths the new rules and restricts trading hours of animal cafes. The stricter regulations are intended to make sure that those animals at the cafes have appropriate human treatment and care.{{Cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2012/03/12/editorials/loosening-up-on-animal-cafes/#.W6r1hHszapp|title=Loosening upon animal cafes {{!}} The Japan Times|work=The Japan Times|access-date=26 September 2018|language=en-US}}
There are also cases of crimes against animal welfare in animal cafés. The owner of a cat café in Thailand was arrested by police due to disobedience against the Animal Protection Law. Seven cats died at his café due to poor safety care.{{Cite news|url=https://www.news.com.au/travel/world-travel/asia/animal-cafes-arent-cute-they-are-abusive-activists-say/news-story/384d3e559423052af9fe1886f81997f3|title=Why you should stop going to animal cafes|work=NewsComAu|access-date=26 September 2018}} Also, such welfare and safety problem can be found in South Korea as well. For example, animals in the cafes were not allowed to sleep until the cafes shut the door late at night.{{Cite news|url=http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/796487.html|title=Wild animal cafes in Seoul operate in a risky legal blindspot|access-date=26 September 2018}} Such animal safety problems are generated due to the absence of regulations on animal cafes in South Korea because animal cafes are a relatively recent phenomenon.{{Cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/09/116_214833.html|title=Animal cafes remain outside legal boundaries|date=27 September 2016|work=koreatimes|access-date=29 October 2018|language=en}}
There have also been cases in which customers who were injured by animals at the café complained about the café's safety policy. These cases occurred when the café owners did not take any responsibility for injuries.