Asian Animal Café

However, the idea of animal cafes has long been popular throughout Asia. Tokyo alone has about 60 cat cafes, and across Japan, you can find cafes dedicated to rabbits, hedgehogs, penguins, and goats. In Bangkok, the Little Zoo Cafe is one of the few places where you can find meerkats. Both Cambodia and Vietnam have reptile cafes. To avoid dust, South Korea is also known for its raccoon cafes and - wait for it - cafes where you can hang out with free-roaming sheep in the trendy Hongdae area of Seoul.

So, where did this idea originally come from? Why hasn't it succeeded in Europe?

Last year, I visited the Big Dog Cafe in Bangkok, located near the Thailand Cultural Center subway station. The cafe operates five two-hour entry slots each day, which, as the name suggests, gives visitors the chance to hang out and play with various breeds of dogs.

Upon arrival, you receive a laminated rap sheet of the cafe's dogs and a pair of plastic flip-flops. Then, the dogs appear in groups during the two-hour session, each group for 5-10 minutes. There are Newfoundlands, Irish Wolfhounds, Old English Sheepdogs, and breeds you've never heard of. But so far, the star of the show is a massive Alaskan Malamute named Solo. He is the last dog to appear and the favorite of anyone visiting the cafe.

The area where you meet the dogs is separate from the main cafe. Visitors are accompanied by staff and are encouraged to buy treats for the dogs. Toys are strewn across the floor, and occasionally, play items are provided for both dogs and visitors. Hundreds of photos are taken. The food at the cafe is good in every way, but you are not obligated to purchase it, and it is not included in the ticket price. Eating food also affects your precious dog time.

We went during the first time slot of the day, which the manager said is one of the least busy times. Due to its popularity, it is recommended to make a reservation, which can be done via Facebook Messenger.

Big Dog Cafe is one of the few animal cafes in all of Asia. The first animal cafe, called Cat Flower Garden, opened in Taiwan in 1998. It quickly became popular with Japanese tourists and was then brought back to Japan. The first cat cafe in Japan opened in Osaka in 2004.

There are many reasons why these cafes are so popular. In the highly developed cities of Asia, where people are closely connected, there are few opportunities to connect with nature. Unlike many European cities, these urban environments often have less open space and access to parks.

Additionally, many apartments are small, and buildings do not allow pets. In Tokyo, a typical studio apartment is about 20 square meters, while a three-bedroom apartment is about 70 square meters. Imagine taking care of an Alaskan Malamute in that!

Unless precisely designed, urban environments can also easily increase stress, anxiety, and feelings of isolation. This has been a theme among urban theorists since Georg Simmel. Cities like Tokyo and Seoul are constantly bombarded with sensory overload. The massive crowds, neon lights, and noise can be overwhelming. Combined with a culture of overwork, this may help explain the high suicide rates in these countries.

Enter cat cafes.

There is a close connection between contact with nature and mental and physical health. Contact with nature is intended to alleviate stress and anxiety. The physical act of petting a cat or dog is meant to lower blood pressure and eliminate feelings of loneliness.

While originally opened for people wanting to spend time with animals, cat cafes may also have sparked a greater need for connection with nature. In the chaos of daily life, there is a need for a comforting and calming place.

The rise of social media, especially the development of visual platforms like Instagram and TikTok, has intensified this trend - promoting the growth of these establishments and attracting people. These cafes provide excellent visual content and inspire a demand for unique and shareable experiences. People love cats and dogs on Instagram.

This concept is not without controversy - it is likely a stumbling block for its dominance in Europe. There are judgments about whether animal cafes are beneficial for the animals. Some say they provide some positive effects, while others argue that animals are not suited for this lifestyle and are exploited for commercial profit. It largely depends on the specific cafe and how they care for the animals.

Visitors are often animal lovers and are guided during their visit to the cafe. They are encouraged to treat the animals with caution and respect, reminded not to feed them human food, and advised not to force the animals to take photos with them. There have even been incidents of visitors being harmed by the animals.

Concerns related to animal welfare have led to changes in regulations and, in some places, the closure of cafes. In Japan, after animal rights activists raised concerns about the treatment and care requirements for birds in these cafes, regulations were changed.

Animals are often separated from the food supply area of the cafe, as in Big Dog Cafe, but this is not always the case, especially in the case of smaller animals. In Europe and the United States, regulatory oversight of this impact may be stronger. For example, in the U.S., government food service regulations require that in many cat cafes, the food for the cats is kept separate from the cats.

Humans crave contact with nature and direct interaction with animals - especially cute ones. They become very creative in places where this is not easily accessible.

This need for contact with nature seems to have driven the early development of animal cafes and has also attracted people in Europe and the United States. However, it has not reached the same level.

The lifestyle patterns and availability of open space in cities and suburbs in Europe and the U.S. are fundamentally different from those in Asia. On average, there is less demand for high-rise housing, and cities are often dotted with various pedestrian-friendly spaces. In cities like London, urban farms are a fairly common and accessible concept. The percentage of home ownership and long-term rentals may also be higher.

These factors may explain why concepts like the "Borrow My Doggy" app have become more popular than dog cafes. Or why, in cities like New York, Los Angeles, and London, owning a small dog has become a trend despite crowded living conditions.

The concept has developed in the European and American markets. An increasing number of cafes, such as the Brooklyn Cat Cafe, are adopting abandoned animals seeking adoption.

The popularity of animal cafes does not seem to be fading anytime soon. In Bangkok, a Corgi Cafe has just opened, fueled by the popularity of the new animated film "The Queen's Corgi." And I am sure we will continue to see a variety of strange and wonderful concepts.

As urbanization increases and people crave connection with nature, animal cafes will remain a part of the landscape. However, they are not enough to address the root causes that lead people to seek them out in the first place.

Urban planners and governments should seek ways to better integrate green spaces into our urban structures and make them more livable - from building new parks, opening rivers, and making rural transport more accessible through public transport. The Cheonggyecheon River restoration project in Seoul is an example. Now, 60,000 people visit the area daily, providing places for exercise, contact with nature, and much-needed respite from the busy streets. It also has the added benefits of providing much-needed environmental management and flood relief in the city.

Ultimately, this will benefit us all - improving our mental and physical health.

If you are visiting an animal cafe and notice any signs of neglect or anything that makes you uncomfortable, please highlight it to any bloggers who recommended your visit and any relevant authorities.