Josh passes a cat cafe every day on his way to work, but we had no idea until a blog entry by The Curious Kiwi pointed it out to us. The place is tucked in the middle of a busy industrial neighborhood that's so unremarkable it still took us a minute to find even after we knew it was there.
There's a separate dining area to use if you prefer to eat/drink sans felines, but the basic premise is to have coffee while enjoying the company of a room full of cats. This idea is genius for so many reasons. First of all, it never hurts to have a gimick. If I have a choice between going out for a coffee and going out for a coffee WHILE snuggling a kitten, I will choose to have a snuggle with my coffee every time. It also means I can enjoy a little furry company, but never have to clean up after them or worry about who will check on them when I'm on vacation. It's like being an aunt: you get all the fun, and none of the hassle. It's an especially perfect arrangement for us because Josh adores cats, but is also miserably allergic to them. Coming here meant we could enjoy them but then bolt when things started to go itchy and runny. Lastly, if you're a cat, living here is like winning the lottery. It's full of toys, playmates, nooks to explore, and it has drawbridges!
I was also really surprised at how clean it was. The only thing that could possibly make this a better idea is if they used the cafe as a vehicle to find homes for cats who need them, because I'm sure they would get adopted in a heartbeat.
Of course, once you live in this magical cat playground, nobody's house is going to be able to top it.
Of course, once you live in this magical cat playground, nobody's house is going to be able to top it.
I found one cat just staring at a corner, really intensely. I thought it was a little strange until I read the sign just above him. I forget exactly what was on the sign, but it went something like this:
If you see a black and white cat staring at the wall, don't worry, he's not catatonic. He just really misses Mike, whose office is on the other side. He's not allowed in the office, so pick him up and give him some love. He'll feel better.
Ok, the sign did not actually say "catatonic"--but come on, serious missed pun opportunity there.
Also, just the fact that this sign had to exist is seriously adorable. Just look at him: so full of devotion and yearning that his little cat heart might explode.
If you see a black and white cat staring at the wall, don't worry, he's not catatonic. He just really misses Mike, whose office is on the other side. He's not allowed in the office, so pick him up and give him some love. He'll feel better.
Ok, the sign did not actually say "catatonic"--but come on, serious missed pun opportunity there.
Also, just the fact that this sign had to exist is seriously adorable. Just look at him: so full of devotion and yearning that his little cat heart might explode.
All this cuteness doesn't come free though, there is an admission fee. Josh and I went on Friday night, when they offer you a dinner deal to go with it. It's not a ton of food, but the whole thing isn't a terrible deal considering how expensive eating out in NZ tends to be. Also, this place is really popular so unless you're planning to go in the middle of the day on a Tuesday, you have to book in advance. That takes some of the fun out of it for me. Part of what makes this kind of thing enjoyable is the spontaneity. You'd never put "eat an ice cream cone" on your calendar. It's practically made to be a whim. Like scheduling ice cream cones, booking time with cats feels weird.
That said, ice cream is still delicious, and cats are still cute--scheduled or not.
That said, ice cream is still delicious, and cats are still cute--scheduled or not.
If you're local and want more information the above button links to the blog we found it on.