Australian Traveller — Issue 75 — June-July 2017

ILLUSTRATION: CARLA McRAE

Entering the PURR ZONE, Fleur Bainger finds

CAT CAFES arenotwhatSHEEXPECTED.

SYDNEY HAS THREE OF THEM.

There are two in Brisbane. And Melbourne

claims the original. Cat cafes are on the

prowl across Australia, with Perth and now

Adelaide joining the moggie movement.

Aside from the excuse to make catty puns,

cat cafes are resonating with people who’d

love a pet of their own, but circumstance

• their rental rules, travelling lifestyle or fur-
  lergic partner – means they can’t. Others go
  for the companionship and good vibes that
  animal interaction delivers. Or, in my case,
  pure entertainment.
  The cult-like popularity of LOL cat vids
  on YouTube has undoubtedly fuelled the
  demand. Cat cafes originated in Taiwan in
  the ’90s but achieved global fame in Japan
  (where there are now more than 100).
  The trend, which Wikipedia dryly describes
  as ‘pet rental,’ has since swept the world.
  Visiting one is an unusual experience.
  Far from my image of lounging on squishy
  couches holding painted crockery as felines
  purr on my lap and rub against my shins,
  interiors are relatively spartan and cats are,
  typically, more interested in looking after

C O F F E E

with

CATS