Cats are by far the most popular pet in Germany, but not everyone can afford to have one at home. However, anyone missing a furry friend with an independent character can find happiness in a cat café: A coffee house where cats roam freely and you can watch and even stroke them as if they were your own. And we finally have one in Stuttgart. It’s called Happy Cat’s Café & Trattoria, is located in the west and is more than charming.
The origin of cat cafés
As you might have guessed, the idea of a café for people and cats is not new. In fact, the world’s first cat café,“Cat Flower Garden“, opened in Taiwan in 1998 – more than 20 years ago.
But it was in Japan that the concept really blossomed. Due to the size and population of Japan, many residents live in small apartments or condominiums where pets are not allowed. Therefore, a cat cafe is a very popular destination for young workers seeking companionship and comfort. The first one opened in 2004, and dozens more soon followed.
Their success was so great, in fact, that the idea was exported to Europe and America and they have been thriving since the 2010s. And although we had to wait quite a while, we’re glad we have one here.
This is what the Stuttgart cat café looks like
The owner of Happy Cat’s Café & Trattoria may be Daniel di Stefano, but the place undoubtedly belongs to his two cats: Blue, a Maine-Coon-Persian mix, and Spooky, a young Siamese cat. They have cat trees, a wooden catwalk hanging from the ceiling and every cushion imaginable on which they can lie down and look out of the window. In addition, both cats have a retreat area in a separate room that is accessible through a cat flap – with limited access for humans.
To ensure the comfort and well-being of the cats, all visitors must adhere to certain rules:
- Sleeping cats must not be woken up.
- It is also forbidden to pick up the cats and pull their ears and tails.
- The cats may not be fed with cake – treats are available for them in the café.
- Photos of the cats may only be taken without a flash.
A controversial concept
Despite these rules, the opening of Happy Cat’s Café and even the concept of a cat café are not without controversy. Welfare organizations disagree on whether cat cafés are a suitable environment for cats. Nevertheless, everyone agrees that these cafés need to be properly regulated. And with this in mind, the Stuttgart cat café is more than prepared – it has been approved by the public health department and the veterinary office. The requirements include a litter tray for each cat, separate water and food bowls for each animal and sufficient retreat options – which, as we have seen, it has.
The Happy Cat’s Café concept also differs from that of an ordinary cat café. Usually, guests pay a fee by the hour, and so cat cafés can be seen as a kind of supervised pet rental. Instead, visitors here pay for their drinks and food while enjoying the company of these purring regulars.