We recently learned about the Cat Café Studio in Mumbai (near Versova Beach) and decided to check it out one Sunday. The premise of the cafe was simple – come sip coffee and munch on some food while 25 kitties roam around you in an enclosed space. The studio part comes into play in that they have an adjacent room that is used for art classes. I am unclear about whether the cats are incorporated into art classes, but either way, it’s still a very cool concept.
A bit of background about the café: The Cat Café Studio (CCS) is a social enterprise run and funded by Zcyphher – An Independent Creative Agency. It opened in 2015 and fosters 30-40 cats at a time. In 2017 Zcyphher also founded The Feline Foundation, an NGO that takes care of all the rescue and care operations for the cats who are fostered at the cafe. All the cats are rescued from the streets of Versova, the neighborhood in which the cafe sits. Now back to our story!
We got there just as “Mewga†(aka: Yoga with cats roaming around) was ending so we ordered our drinks and waited for yoga to clear out. There were lots of low tables with cushions for us to sit on, so when we finally got let in, we found a place at one of those. It was mere minutes before a kitty wandered up and plopped down on a cushion next to us!
One cool thing I should mention is that all of the cats at the café are available for adoption. You can also support the cats in other ways, should you not be looking to adopt a cat. Other options include a “Sponsor a Cat” program and specific donations of food and supplies. CLICK HERE to learn more.
The studio seemed really well run. They had some basic rules for the space. You needed to wash your hands, couldn’t bother a cat if it was eating or sleeping, couldn’t pick up the animals (although if they crawled onto your lap that was totally fine) and couldn’t feed them.
A jet-black 3-legged cat took a liking to Mr. Nick instantly and snuggled on his lap for a good half hour. Nia and I were so annoyed by this because we both desperately wanted to hold a cat and Nick couldn’t have cared less. Much like with dating, I guess cats are turned off by desperation/neediness. Next time I’m going to play hard-to-get because there seems to be an inverse relationship there – the less you care, the more interested they are in you. How’s that for some reverse cat psychology! :)
A big thumbs up for this place from the Novaks. Coffees and cats are a lovely combo! Do tell if you’ve been to a cat café and share where it was.
