[/floatl]Asahi: Kitty cafes soothe ravaged urbanites
Stressed-out cat-lovers living in urban apartments with no-pet rules now have another way to say "hello kitty." They can stop by one of the many cat cafes that are mushrooming around the capital. When customers enter the Calico cafe near JR Kichijoji Station in western Tokyo, they are required to take off their shoes. That's not because the 100-square-meter space is a traditional tatami-mat room. It is furnished simply with low tables and sofas. No, what makes it different from a run-of-the-mill coffee shop are the 28 cats that romp, sleep, purr and play with the customers. In fact, patrons often come here more for the kitty companionship than the tea or coffee on offer. The feline company helps them relax, they say. "I wanted to have a cat at home, but my family situation does not allow it," said a 26-year-old woman who was a first-time visitor to the cafe. "It's so soothing here," she said as she played with a cat...more...
I stopped by a cat cafe in Nishi Gotanda which opens until 5:00am in the morning. You can see their cat staff here. I'm not suggesting anything but some people might be interested in bars which attract women in the early hours of the morning.
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