{"id":2564,"date":"2015-06-18T18:35:17","date_gmt":"2015-06-18T18:35:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lbpost.com\/articles\/life\/pets\/coffee-tea-or-me-ow-the-cat-cafe-society-3\/"},"modified":"2015-06-18T18:35:17","modified_gmt":"2015-06-18T18:35:17","slug":"coffee-tea-or-me-ow-the-cat-cafe-society-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/hi-lo\/pets\/coffee-tea-or-me-ow-the-cat-cafe-society-3","title":{"rendered":"Coffee, Tea, or Me-ow? The Cat Caf\u00e9 Society"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Funny<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Photo by Kate Karp, with illustration by Dennis Dean.  <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

I like coffee, I like tea, and I don\u2019t really mind a cat hair or three. And in Lady Dinah\u2019s Cat Emporium<\/a>, named for Alice\u2019s pet cat in Alice in Wonderland<\/i>, <\/i>how the fur flies is entirely up to the customers.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything is stored in another room and kept clean,\u201d said Lauren Pear, Lady Dinah\u2019s proprietress. \u201cOnce it is on the customer’s table, they must be diligent about their food and drink items\u2014it would be terribly awkward if we hovered over them!\u201d<\/p>\n

At Lady Dinah\u2019s, your chamomile and marmalade are paired with a chat with a moggy. It\u2019ll be my first stop next time I\u2019m in London. And if you, too, would go out of your way to have cats with your caffeine or whatever you drink, chances are that you don\u2019t care one way or another about the cat hair and doubtless wouldn\u2019t notice it anyway.<\/p>\n

Establishments called cat caf\u00e9s are proliferating in the way cats generally do, and the results hopefully will help cancel out that latter multiplication here in the United States, where the new shops feature adoptive cats.<\/p>\n

Besides Lady Dinah\u2019s, there are caf\u00e9s in a number of countries including Taipei, China, France, Germany and Canada, and they\u2019re in our backyards, too, from coast to coast.<\/p>\n

Their popularity isn\u2019t surprising: CatCon has just had a successful inaugural weekend in L.A., celebrity cats like Grumpy Cat and Lil Bub the permakitten have their pusses slapped on canvas bags and T-shirts; cat videos have taken over YouTube and are now unabashedly enjoyed by not only crazy cat ladies; and crazy cat ladies themselves have come out from under the bed and have taken on a memetic quality.<\/p>\n

Cat caf\u00e9s fit right into the mosaic.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m using the term cat caf\u00e9 <\/i>for any establishment that serves up a beverage or plans a jolly event and has cats running around in a protected area where folks can socialize with them. Lady Dinah\u2019s schedules cat yoga as well as teas, and KitTea,<\/a> an establishment that promises to open soon in San Francisco, will be a cat tea house. And there\u2019s a pop-up carnival coming right up, complete with popcorn and lemonade\u2014more about that in a minute.<\/p>\n

\"multi<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Outward-facing cat at Lady Dinah’s Emporium. Photo courtesy of Lady Dinah’s Emporium<\/em><\/p>\n

The first cat establishment recorded, not counting what must have been de rigueur in ancient Egypt, opened in Taipei as an attraction for both locals and tourists. Some visitors from Japan took the idea home with them and opened the first cat caf\u00e9 in Osaka in 2004.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve become very popular in Japan, with Tokyo home to at least 39,\u201d wrote Tony Wang on the history page<\/a> of his own San Diego cat caf\u00e9\u2019s website. \u201cJapan as a whole has over 150 cat cafes<\/a>. Because many apartments in Japan forbid pet ownership, the popularity of the caf\u00e9s has been attributed to a desire to interact with cats to help relieve the stress of a busy urban life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wang\u2019s concern is simply called Cat Caf\u00e9, and it\u2019s one of the kindle that has opened in the U.S. The first one was temporary\u2014a 2014 pop-up in Manhattan<\/a> that was sponsored by a pet food corporation and took the form of an adoption event.<\/p>\n

Ann Dunn and Adam Myatt (which sounds like the noise that a hungry cat would make) grabbed the idea like a ball of yarn and unraveled it across the country to the Left Coast.<\/p>\n

They opened Cat Town Caf\u00e9<\/a> in Oakland, the first permanent cat caf\u00e9 in the country. Dunn, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Oakland rescue Cat Town<\/a>, and Myatt, a photographer who likes to snap kitties<\/a>, founded their caf\u00e9 as a nonprofit. As with Lady Dinah\u2019s and other locations, reservations are required or encouraged.<\/p>\n

Of course, establishments in the United States where pets reside and food is sold generally have to follow city, county or state health regulations and attend to the possibility of a kitty flying the coop. Wang\u2019s dedication to this requirement inspires awe.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a double door to keep the cats from escaping into the outside,” he said in an interview. \u201cOn top of that, we have a third door that separates the area from which the coffee is served so that adopted cats won\u2019t go near the coffee cart on the way out.\u201d Similarly, Cat Town has a Cat Zone that\u2019s separated by a double door.<\/p>\n

And, of course, there must be standards for the well-being of the cats. \u201cWhat we do is have a staff person who\u2019s always in the playpen\u2014the area where the cats can roam,\u201d Wang said. \u201cWe brief the people when they enter the room, and we keep an eye out. It\u2019s generally been not too much of a problem\u2014once we tell people not to do something, they generally don\u2019t do it anymore. Children under 12 must be supervised by their parents, and they\u2019re happy to comply.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those who don\u2019t comply at Lady Dinah\u2019s will be up against Lauren Pear\u2019s governess hat. \u201cIf we want the cats to be happy and the nice, empathetic customers to return, we have to manage the not-so-empathetic ones,\u201d she said. \u201cIt’s fairly straightforward\u2014we just ask them nicely to stop. If they don’t, we ask them slightly less nicely. We ask them to leave if we need to, and ban them if we need to. All the staff are expected to protect the cats, and they do their best.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pear added that no one has ever deliberately attempted to harm a cat; the main challenge, she said, is that people become overly excited. And extreme fits of cuteness are to be expected.<\/p>\n

\"flyer\"<\/p>\n

A cat caf\u00e9 would fit right into animal-loving Long Beach, and there have been some rumors about a couple opening. Nothing solid yet, but this Saturday, June 20, from 1 to 4PM, Helen Sanders CatPAWS <\/a>and Apostrophe Books on Second Street<\/a> are popping up that carnival I mentioned on the bookstore\u2019s patio. Priscilla\u2019s Puss \u2019n\u2019 Books Kitty Karnival will present a big top that\u2019s full of kittens to socialize with and adopt.<\/p>\n

The event is named for the late local children\u2019s author Priscilla Maltbie<\/a>, who was born with disabilities that didn\u2019t stop her from writing acclaimed books for children about renowned artists and authors such as Picasso, Claude Monet and Mark Twain. And oh, she loved and advocated for cats.<\/p>\n

Free popcorn and lemonade will be on hand (for the kids, not the kitties), children\u2019s books will be available to read to the cats (that\u2019s part of socialization and is also a positive experience for children), and there are shelves full of quality reading to take home even if you don\u2019t bring a cat with you. There will also be coloring pages, stickers, and a raffle for movie tickets.<\/p>\n

\"Book<\/p>\n

Another way to bring a cat into the house. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

There will be staff present at all times for supervision and to facilitate adoptions. Remember that the kittens aren\u2019t carnival prizes but orphans in need of good homes, and there are several parameters for adoption, as follows:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. You\u2019ll be given an application to be completed onsite.<\/li>\n
  2. There will be an onsite interview between you and a staff member from CatPAWS.<\/li>\n
  3. If your application is approved, you\u2019ll sign a contract.<\/li>\n
  4. If you adopt a kitten (or kittens!) that are adoption ready, you\u2019ll accompany one of the volunteers to Petco, complete a Petco contract, receive a coupon book, and purchase the necessary items needed for the kitten\u2014a carrier, a cat box, food, toys, and so on. You\u2019ll also receive a free wellness check for your new buddy at Los Alamitos Animal Hospital.<\/li>\n
  5. If you adopt a kitten who isn\u2019t ready to go home, i.e., needs to be spayed or neutered, arrangements will be made for pickup at a later time.<\/li>\n
  6. If your application isn\u2019t approved onsite because more information, reference checks, and so forth are needed, you\u2019ll be contacted by phone within 24 hours by someone on the adoption committee.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I know that I\u2019m not fooling any of you about the first two-thirds of the article\u2014it was pretty much a deliberate ploy to get you to come to the Karnival and adopt cats, but the whole cat caf\u00e9 history is interesting, and they\u2019re proving to be an effective way to hook you in. A little hair of the cat in your beverage to you!<\/p>\n

    There are two means of refuge from the misery of life\u2014music and cats.<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

    ~Albert Schweitzer<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

    Virtually Pets<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \"Jackson\"<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    Jackson<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    \"Monroe\"<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    Monroe<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    \"Madison<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    Madison<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    \"Lincoln\"<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    Lincoln<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"Kristi<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    First Lady Kristi (right) and brother Remi<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    Above are but a few of the special guests at the Kitty Karnival! You can meet them in person and enjoy their company.<\/p>\n

    \"Cali\"<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    Cali<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    \"Chloe\"<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    Chloe<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    Private adoption: Do you have room in your heart and hearth for two 14-year-old cats, which are sisters and have never been separated? Because of a move, the owner can no longer keep them. She has to be out of her apartment by the end of this month and will take the cats to a shelter if she can\u2019t find a home for them together.<\/p>\n

    Cali, the first one pictured, weighs between 15 and 20 pounds, likes to have her head scratched occasionally, and can be vocal.<\/p>\n

    The second is Chloe, who weighs between 20 to 25 pounds, likes to have her ears scratched, and is very quiet. They eat only dry cat food and are box trained. They\u2019ll both need a treadmill the first few months, no doubt, and a low-cal diet prescribed by the vet. If you\u2019re interested, e-mail Stacie.jerden@yahoo.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Pet Projects<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Friends of Long Beach Animals Humane Education Program: Free, Ongoing until July<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Reserve a date for this necessary program now, as it will go on hiatus in mid-June. Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOLBA<\/a>) stands by its word when it says it actively supports teaching children kindness to and respect for animals. FOLBA has provided several copies of humane books to all of the libraries in the Long Beach Unified School District, all the Public Libraries in Long Beach and Signal Hill, as well as to Raising-a-Reader and to Mary Bethune Transitional Center (assisting homeless children who need reading improvement so they can attend regular LBUSD classes). This interactive humane education program is free to all schools in the Long Beach Unified School District, Girl and Boy Scout Troops, Long Beach Parks and Libraries and Community Groups. Basic elements of the program are as follows:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Humane treatment of all living creatures<\/li>\n
    2. Basic pet care<\/li>\n
    3. Proper behavior around animals<\/li>\n
    4. Responsibilities and rewards of pet ownership<\/li>\n
    5. Handouts and study materials<\/li>\n
    6. Follow-up activities<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      For information, contact Friends\u2019 office, 562.988.7647<\/p>\n

      Monthly Mutt Mingles, Pussy & Pooch Pethouse and PawBar: 4818 East Second Street, Long Beach, third Wednesday of every month; and 222 East Broadway, third Thursday of every month, 6:00PM to 8:00PM<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Join P&P for their monthly mixer, and enjoy special treats, toasts, and plenty of in-store tail-wagging. Mutt Mingles are a great way for your dog to learn valuable social skills. It\u2019s a chance for them to experience and interact in a social setting with food, drink and plenty of other distractions! It\u2019s important for your dog to learn how to behave around other dogs and people so that they\u2019ll be the stars of the dog park and the dog beach. The indoor facility provides for a very comfortable setting and fun atmosphere. Dogs may be off-leash if supervised closely by their owners. For their protection, we lock the front door so dogs are safe from the street traffic.<\/p>\n

      SpcaLA Friends for Life Summer Camp, June\u2013August, spcaLA P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village & Education Center: 7700 East Spring Street, Long Beach <\/strong><\/p>\n

      Paws down, this is the best summer camp around. Kids eight to 13 will learn the basics of pet care and responsibility, respect for all animals, and the beginnings of dog training\u2014all while making the best kinds of friends\u2014those who care about animals! There are 10 sessions available, each running Monday through Friday. Enroll on our website, available at this link<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      #Pizza Rev Pets Campaign, throughout June<\/strong><\/p>\n

      In celebration of National Pet Adoption Month, PizzaRev has launched the #PizzaRevPets campaign to help find forever homes for sheltered or abandoned animals. Throughout June, animal lovers are encouraged to share their favorite adopted pet photos and their adoption story via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, using #PizzaRevPets. PizzaRev will choose one grand prize winner to receive free pizza for a year.<\/p>\n

      The winning photo will be displayed at PizzaRev restaurants across the country. Ten winners will receive a $100 PizzaRev gift card. PizzaRev, where you can craft your own pizza, has devoted time and funding to pet adoption, and many of the employees have adopted pets of their own; the Long Beach store is located in the Towne Center, 7551B Carson Avenue, near the movie theater.<\/p>\n

      Low-Cost Pet Vaccination Clinics, Thursday, June 18, 4:00PM to 7:00PM, Scherer Park, 4600 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Pet owners must be 18 years or older. All pets must be on leashes or in carriers. Only healthy and non-pregnant animals will be vaccinated. If you have a prior rabies vaccine certificate, license tag or license renewal notice for your pet, please bring it with you to the clinic. <\/p>\n

      Vaccination and microchip services are provided for pets residing in any city. Licensing service is provided for residents within our jurisdiction: Long Beach, Signal Hill, Cerritos, Los Alamitos and Seal Beach. For more service information and pricing please visit Southern California Veterinary Vaccine Clinics<\/a>http:\/\/www.scvvc.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      Priscilla\u2019s Puss \u2019n\u2019 Books Kitty Karnival: Saturday, June 20, 11:00AM to 4:00PM, Apostrophe Books, 5229 East Second Street, Long Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Cats and books\u2014what more could you pussibly want?<\/p>\n

      Friends of Long Beach Animals 26th Annual Membership Meeting: Wednesday, June 24, 6:30PM, Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 East Anaheim Street, Long Beach, free<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Join FOLBA for an evening of pet-themed events featuring Terry Long, a certified professional dog trainer, behavior consultant and owner of DogPACT<\/a>, a Long Beach-based dog-training company. Terry and her team of certified trainers provide a variety of classes for pet manners, agility, and nose work, as well as private consultations for serious behavior problems. Her dogs, Kiwi and Pretzel, will provide entertainment that\u2019s not to be missed. Refreshments will be served. FOLBA would love volunteers!<\/p>\n

      Friends of Long Beach Animals<\/a> Yard Sale: June 20 to 21<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \"Yard<\/p>\n

      14th Year Anniversary of Rosie\u2019s Dog Beach: Wednesday, June 24, Rosie\u2019s Dog Beach, 5000 East Ocean Boulevard between Roycroft and Granada Avenues<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Rosie\u2019s Dog Beach remains the only off-leash dog beach in L.A. County. It was established to celebrate the life of Rosie the Bulldog, who was the first swimmer into the water when the beach was dedicated 14 years ago. Look for the wonderful design designators<\/a> that mark the boundaries of the beach, and splash away with your best buddy. Find out more about Rosie\u2019s Dog Beach here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      Pours for Paws, Saturday, June 27, 6:00PM to 9:00PM, Howl Event Space, 237 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach, $50 single, $90 couple, $100 foursome<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Join the Seal Beach Animal Care Center (SBACC) for a delightful evening in the courtyard of a historical house to enjoy live jazz, hors d\u2019oeuvres, tasting great vintages, and a silent raffle and auction. It\u2019s a great evening out for you and an even better one that will benefit the dogs and cats at SBACC! Contact christinelynnrobbins@gmail.com<\/a>  for tickets and info.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Enjoy the ride as Post <\/em>contributor Kate Karp explores the proliferation of cat caf\u00e9s around the world before detailing pet events throughout the city. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":67889,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","inline_featured_image":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_":"","_author_alias":"","cap-aim":"","cap-description":"","cap-display_name":"","cap-first_name":"","cap-jabber":"","cap-last_name":"","cap-linked_account":"","cap-newspack_employer":"","cap-newspack_job_title":"","cap-newspack_phone_number":"","cap-newspack_role":"","cap-user_email":"","cap-user_login":"","cap-website":"","cap-yahooim":"","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_email_html":"","newspack_email_type":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_hide_page_title":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_show_share_buttons":"","newspack_sponsor_byline_prefix":"","newspack_sponsor_disclaimer_override":"","newspack_sponsor_flag_override":"","newspack_sponsor_only_direct":"","newspack_sponsor_url":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-2564","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pets","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2564","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2564"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2564\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67889"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2564"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2564"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2564"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=2564"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2564"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}