Today, we’re taking a look at the coolest cat cafes in North Carolina. Are you looking to break out of the run-of-the-mill date night ideas? Is your sweetie a cat lover? Want to elevate that coffee meetup to the next level?
Cat cafes in North Carolina could be just the thing! If you haven’t heard of this ultra-cuddly, extra-caffeinated phenomenon, prepare yourself.
I was really curious about the origins of this great idea, so I did some deep diving on the history of feline eateries.
According to catcafesd.com: “Cat cafes originated in Taiwan, with one opening in Taipei in 1998. The cafe became popular with Japanese tourists as well as local visitors, who enjoyed the opportunity to interact with some furry friends. One of the Japanese tourists took the idea back to Japan, and the first Japanese cat cafe opened its doors in Osaka in 2004. They’ve become very popular in Japan, with Tokyo home to at least 39. Japan as a whole has over 150 cat cafes. Because many apartments in Japan forbid pet ownership, the popularity of the cafes has been attributed to a desire to interact with cats to help relieve the stress of a busy urban life.
Many people attribute the growth of cat cafes to tourists. But step outside the areas where tourists visit, and you’ll see lots of Japanese businessmen happily playing with cats as a way to relax and forget about work for a while.”
Such a simple idea! Some of the cafes are run by rescue organizations, so they run double-duty as kitty adoption centers. That’s a win-win for everyone involved. Be mindful that most of these coffee-fueled catteries strongly encourage making a reservation for the best experience.
We found a bunch of great places in our hunt, but here are six of the coolest cat cafes in North Carolina.
