Cat Cafes: Unique Feline Focused Businesses in Japan

   Every city has a go-to coffee shop or cafe where residents of the area can feel at home. These cafes tend to offer customers a relaxing atmosphere, delicious food and drink, and even free internet. These offerings are all well and good for the typical coffee shop customer, getmoonmilk.com but what if you could go to a coffee shop that offered all of the above, plus the chance to visit with adorable felines? Japan is home to several Cat Cafes that offer just that.

Cat Cafes are small businesses that allow people to visit with the resident cats for a small fee. These cafes started popping up around 2006, and today there are about 79 Cat Cafes all over Japan. Generally, these establishments charge by the hour ranging from about $7 to $10 per hour, with fees increasing on weekends and holidays. manausdefato.com In addition to cats, the cafes also offer visitors food and drink, computers, books, and video games.

The resident felines in the Cat Cafes are treated with great respect. Before and during their stay, visitors must follow a list of rules including washing their hands before and after playing with the cats, removing their shoes, and not taking pictures with a flash. Interestingly, some cafes do not let visitors pick up the cats. The only exception to this rule is if a kitty voluntarily decides to jump on a customer's lap.

These cafes are not just an attraction for tourists to Japan, but are actually quite popular with locals too. Why are Cat Cafes so popular with the locals in Japan?

As of July 2011, the human population in Japan was estimated to be 126,475,664 people. Of this population, only about 13% of these Japanese households owned a cat, and about 5% of the total Japanese population had a pet cat. These low pet cat numbers are due to strict housing legislation that does not allow certain homeowners in Japan to have a pet. Specifically, single individuals between 20 and 30 years of age living in apartments or condominiums cannot own a pet. For this reason, few Japanese homes actually own a pet, which makes the idea of Cat Cafe very appealing to locals.

Cat Cafes offer tourists and locals in Japan the opportunity to spend quality time with friendly felines in a comfortable atmosphere. If you are a cat enthusiast travelling to Japan, be sure to stop in to one of these unique Cat Cafes for a once in a lifetime experience visiting with the local felines.

Australian Mist Cat - New 'Australian Made' Breed

The Australian Mist Cat is a relatively new cat breed. It was first created by Truda Straeda. The Australian mist is a combination of three cat breeds. The Abyssinian, the Burmese and The Domestic Short Hair. This breed is known for it's even temperament, sense of humor and loving nature. As it is said to have inherited the Burmese 'laid back' nature. The Abyssian's striking fur and the hardiness of the Domestic Short Hair.

The Australia Mist Cat is a short haired breed, that comes in Spotted and Marbled varieties with a range of colors meeting the breeds standards. You can find an Australian Mist in Lilac, Brown, Chocolate, Peach and Gold. With a cat having spots or a marbled pattern within this color range. I in fact have two chocolate spotted which resemble miniature leopards.

As pets they are perfect with children and the elderly. They are happy to be handled and do not scratch or bite. As kittens they are playful and are said to become a bit more mature as they get older, though I can vouch with my three year old she is still extremely playful (plays fetch), with age bringing more a sensibility that is not often found in kittens in any breed. This is a cat breed that is expect to live to their mid to late teens with very little health issues (thanks to the Domestic Short Hair in them).

Green eyes are a distinguishing feature and they can come in any shade of green. There build is quite stocky as they are a medium sized cat with a muscular chest, and they can be voracious eaters, so need to be monitored. They are often heavier than they seem, with a rounded head and big expressive eyes - in that stunning green mentioned previously. Ears tend to range from medium to large and their paws are elegantly oval. Tails are thick, tapering towards the end and often have rings of it's feature color around it.

Now to comment on my cats, to give you a feel for how different they can be within the breed (both have their papers) both as I said previously are chocolate spotted, and from a distance it's easy to confuse them. But one has a more golden undertone, whereas the other has a more cafe au lait undertone. Both with chocolate spots. And one is long, well built yet very very muscular. And the other is soft and squishy to touch and whilst looks smaller than the other is about 1.5kg heavier. Both eat the same amount and exercise the same. One talks a lot, especially when he wants something, the other is quietly watchful. Both are very affectionate. One in an in-your-face way. The other in between periods of reserve.

A distinguishing feature too of the Australian Mist cat is that their base coat is not white, it is a very light light cream. So any cat that is said to be Australian Mist and has a base color is not a true Australian Mist cat.

Another lovely trait of this beautiful breed is that you can train them like a dog from a young age (any age in fact). They will sit, come and also play fetch. I am bought a ball as I sit at my office desk, throw it down the stairs and my cat runs after it, brings it back and drops it at my feet...yes I am talking about a cat!

This breed is also good with other cats and also people. Nothing really phases them. I have not known two cats that so lack that split personality of friend one minute, foe the next. They're chilled and very playful. Another distinguishing characteristic is their desire just to be near you, the owner. My two are allowed outside, however they choose to stay close to me. So no 'secret cats business' for this breed.

All in all with the Australian Mist Cat breed, you get a hearty, healthy very easy going cat, with striking markings that is very easy to care for. And they have personality plus. I definitely have become a big fan!

Shopping For Cafe Bar Stools

Cafes often feature counters and bars and if you manage a traditional or contemporary café then consider outfitting your establishment with high quality metal and wood bar stools. From classic hardwood to sleek polished chrome stools come in a wide variety of styles that can suit old style Parisian cafes and upscale Internet coffee bars.

Bar stools give you another seating option in your bakery or bistro that adds more dimensions to the way a café is used. With counters and bars you reduce the amount of surface space needed to accommodate more patrons and open up opportunities to add many plug in devices to wall outlets including laptop computers and MP3's.

Often situated against a wall or window counters give you the option of providing a scenic view, mirror or wall outlets for guests. This convenience is best utilized with stool seating. Taller than traditional chairs barstools bring people up to a level more conducive to working than resting and this leads people to take advantage of counters by bringing along books or laptops. Comfortable café stools will accommodate bar and counter customers by providing durable frames and a wide variety of custom upholstering to make their stay more enjoyable.

You don't have to operate a digital café to have counters and bars. Many traditional style cafes also feature counter space for espresso drink orders and light cuisine such as baked goods and pastries. Customers who come alone or in pairs enjoy the intimacy of counter and bar seating and having hardwood and wicker bar stools with fine stain finishes and custom upholstered seats and backs will make sitting in your café a pleasurable experience. Traditional cafes can also feature wrought iron, oak and stainless steel bar stools and not upset the classic feel of an old style café.

Stacking bar stools are also convenient seating for cafes that host poetry readings and unplugged music performances such as folk singers and jazz quartets. Being able to stack bar stools and place in storage to open up more floor space gives you more options for entertaining. Stacking bar stools come in a variety of materials including sturdy metal and also feature terrific options for upholstered seats and backs.

Kevin is a professional writer with over 20 years experience in copy writing, advertising, journalism and marketing.