It is an imported and well tested idea. The first cat cafe was opened in Taiwan in the distant 1998, but they became the trend only some ten years ago in Japan. Today there are hundreds of cat cafes only in Tokyo!

After the great success in Asia this profitable business model became widely accepted also in Europe: today you can sip your tea in the company of cats in London, Paris, Berlin and Wien, among other cities. Robert Sankovič and Tina Piskač Sedej, the leaders of the Ljubljana project, got their inspiration in Neko cafe in Wien.

What was the situation only two days after the opening of the cafe?
Birman cat Diva and Nina, maine coon breed, remained safely hidden on wooden landings constructed above the heads of visitors and giving the cats walking room, and allowing them to control the situation. Jonas, black tomcat, the only cat the owners got from a shelter and not bred by professional breeders, patiently avoided the outpour of affections by a longhaired girl, while the second maine coon belle Meri posed in the display window for countless instagram portraits. The exotic Chilli¸ an orange devon rex with large ears and curly fur, was the most thrilled with the large number of visitors; she enjoys jumping to tables and in people's laps, and obviously wallows in their attention.

Good cat manners
The rules for proper behaviour – Good cat manners – have been displayed at a visible place, at the entrance (there is also a lobby which makes it difficult for cats with possibly adventurous tendencies to venture to the street). One rule says that cats should be left alone if they chose not to jump into visitor's lap. We must not feed them, but we can take as much photos as we like. You are not allowed to bring our own pets into cafe, while human offspring are, at least for now, welcome.

Ana Jurc
Translated by G. K.