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Cat Cafes Court Lonely Japanese

Childless Japanese turn to cafes for companionship

By Ambreen Ali, Newser User

Posted Apr 8, 2009 2:35 PM CDT

(Newser) – Hordes of childless Japanese are flocking to Tokyo's cat cafes to cuddle the residents and savor furry companionship along with a cup of tea. So popular are the cafes that reservations are required on weekends, GlobalPost reports. Career-minded urbanites who don't have the time or space for pets, let alone kids, find them great places to mingle and seek affection—human and feline.

"Tokyo wasn't always like this," writes Mimi Hanaoka, who—after removing her shoes and sanitizing her hands—enjoyed an hour with the sleepy cats for $9. "When I grew up here in the 1980s, people had both children and pets. But in the past decade, the Japanese have chosen to have fewer of both."

[Images (2)]

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The cat cafes provide Japanese adults, many of whom lives in buildings where they can't own pets, a chance to cuddle with furry friends. (Shutter stock)

A cat at Nekorobi cat cafe on January 20, 2009, in Tokyo. Cat cafes, where people can spend time with the animals for about $10 an hour, are growing more popular with people living in urban areas. (Getty Images)

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Customers play with cats at Calico Cafe in Kichijoji near Tokyo. (samehat)

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Cat Cafes Court Lonely Japanese