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The History of Cat Cafes | The Psychology of City Dwellers and Cats | The Modern Transformation of Ancient Beliefs
An alley in Shibuya, Tokyo, 3 PM. A man in a suit, fresh out of the office, walks up the stairs. He pays the entrance fee at the counter, washes his hands, and changes into indoor slippers. The door opens. Inside, there are twelve cats.
The man takes a seat. He orders a coffee. And he does nothing. He doesn't take out his smartphone. He doesn't open his laptop. He simply watches the cats move around. When one approaches, he carefully reaches out his hand; if the cat turns away, he lets it be.
An hour later, he walks back down the stairs. His expression has changed. This is a scene repeated hundreds of thousands of times every day all over the world. In a space called a cat cafe.
It Started in Taiwan — But Why Did Japan Become Its Home?
There is a widely misunderstood fact in the history of cat cafes. Many people think cat cafes originated in Japan, but the very first one was actually in Taiwan. In 1998, a cafe called Cat Flower Garden opened in Taipei, Taiwan. This is recorded as the world's first cat cafe. It was a format where cats roamed freely inside the cafe, and customers spent time with them while drinking coffee.
However, it was in Japan where this concept experienced explosive growth. In 2004, a cafe named Neko no Jikan (Cats' Time) opened in Osaka. It is recorded as Japan's first cat cafe. And this cafe was an instant success. Lines formed to enter, and the media paid attention. In 2005, a cat cafe opened in Tokyo, and by around 2008, hundreds of cat cafes began operating across Japan.
Why Did It Grow So Explosively in Japan?
In Japan, there are many pet-free apartments. It is common for narrow apartment buildings in the city to ban keeping pets. There were many people who loved cats but couldn't keep them. Cat cafes precisely met this demand. For city dwellers who couldn't raise their own cats, it provided a space where they could spend time with cats, even if it meant making time and paying money. This was the direct reason for the cat cafe boom in Japan. But this explanation alone cannot capture the entirety of this phenomenon.
What the Numbers Say — The Economics of Cat Cafes
It is difficult to accurately determine the exact number of cat cafes worldwide today, as they continue to increase. Looking at known figures as of 2023, there are over 150 cat cafes operating in Japan alone.
In South Korea, there are dozens in Seoul alone and hundreds nationwide. In the UK, they have spread across the country since London's first cat cafe opened in 2014. The US, Canada, France, Germany, Australia — cat cafes now exist in over 50 countries.
The economic scale is also substantial. Japan's cat cafe industry is estimated to be worth tens of billions of yen annually. Cat cafe franchises have even emerged. Entrance fees vary by country and region, but in Japan, it typically costs 500 to 800 yen for 30 minutes, and 1,000 to 1,500 yen for an hour. Drinks are separate. This is much more expensive than a regular cafe. Yet, people willingly pay. Economically, this is interesting. Paying a premium just to sit with cats. A price has been put on the experience that cats create.
The Evolution of Cat Cafes — Themes and Variations
Over time, cat cafes have evolved into various forms. In Japan, cat cafes began to specialize in specific breeds. A cafe with only Scottish Folds, one with only Russian Blues, one with only Maine Coons. They became gathering spaces for fans of particular breeds.
In South Korea, cat cafes tend to develop into larger, multi-purpose spaces. Dozens of cats in a large indoor space, various food and drinks, photo zones, and even merchandise sales. It takes a form closer to a theme park rather than a simple cafe.
In the UK and the US, cat cafes have been linked with animal adoption. The cats in the cafe are all shelter cats waiting for adoption, and the system allows visitors to adopt a cat they connect with during their visit. These are called Adoption Cat Cafes.
This model is particularly successful. As people naturally spend time with the cats while drinking coffee, the cats—who might have been anxious stuck in cages at a shelter—meet potential adopters in a comfortable environment. In fact, the adoption rates at these cafes are much higher than at regular shelters. Some cat cafes in Korea have also begun to adopt this model, serving as a place to care for rescued stray cats while finding them forever homes.
Cat Cafes Explained by Science — Why Do We Feel Better?
There are people who have researched why we feel better after spending an hour in a cat cafe. In 2015, a research team at the University of Munich in Germany measured the emotional states of visitors before and after visiting a cat cafe. The results were clear. After visiting the cat cafe, the levels of the stress hormone cortisol decreased, while the levels of serotonin and oxytocin, which are associated with feeling good, increased.
As explored earlier in this cat story series, research shows that a cat's purr generates vibrations of 25 to 50 Hz, which helps reduce stress and heal bones. In a cat cafe, this effect is amplified. When multiple cats purr at the same time, the effect of that vibration becomes stronger.
However, beyond scientific explanations, there are other things a cat cafe provides:
Permitted Passivity: In the life of a modern city dweller, doing nothing is not allowed. One must be productive, efficient, and always doing something. A cat cafe is a space where you don't have to do anything. If a cat approaches, you pet it; if it leaves, you let it be. This simplicity offers a sense of liberation.
Surrender of Control: Cats cannot be controlled. They do not come when humans want them to, nor do they behave the way we desire. For modern people who always try to control everything, interacting with an uncontrollable being is paradoxically comforting. It is an encounter with unpredictable outcomes.
Existence Without Judgment: A cat does not care about what your job is, how much you earn, or which university you attended. It doesn't know how many social media followers you have. In front of a cat, a human is just a human. This equality brings comfort.
Demand Created by the City — The Rise of the Loneliness Economy
There is a need to look at cat cafes in a broader social context. Economists have recently been talking about the concept of the Loneliness Economy. It refers to industries that meet the demands of people living alone, eating alone, and lacking social connections. Solo dining, solo drinking, small-portion products for single households, and cat cafes.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared loneliness a public health crisis. Studies even show that the impact of chronic loneliness on health is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. This problem is becoming particularly severe as single-person households increase in large cities.
The percentage of single-person households in Seoul exceeded 34% as of 2023. Tokyo is over 40%. London, Paris, New York — the larger the city, the higher the proportion of people living alone. Many of them want to keep pets but cannot. Narrow spaces, long working hours, landlords' prohibitions, and travel-heavy lifestyles. Yet, the desire for connection between humans and animals does not disappear. Cat cafes satisfy this desire by the hour. By paying a fee, you can connect with a cat. Without responsibility, without obligation, just for that moment.
From Egypt to Cat Cafes — A 5,000-Year Thread
Let's return to the beginning of this cat story series. The Egyptians built the Temple of Bastet. Hundreds of cats lived inside that temple. Priests cared for the cats. Worshippers came and spent time beside them. The meows of the cats were interpreted as oracles.
How does it feel when you place a modern cat cafe next to this image? You pay an entrance fee and go inside. There are cats inside. Dedicated staff (priests) care for the cats. Visitors spend time beside the cats. A cat's behavior feels like it holds a special meaning.
The format is entirely different. However, the essence is strikingly similar. Feline worship has not disappeared. It has merely been translated into modern language. Time spent with sacred cats has been repackaged as a wellness experience. The temple offering has changed into an entrance fee.
No one consciously created this connection. No one planned it and said, let's modernize the concept of ancient Egyptian temples. People simply wanted it, and a space emerged to respond to that demand. The root of that demand is much, much older.
The Ethics of Cat Cafes — There is Also a Shadow
While discussing cat cafes, we must also mention the shadows. Cat cafes raise issues of feline welfare. An environment where strangers come and go all day can be stressful for a cat. Cats inherently need solitude and a stable territory. An environment with excessively high stimulation and continuous, unpredictable contact might not be good for a cat's psychological health.
As awareness of this issue has grown, good cat cafes have started to equip themselves with various measures for feline welfare. They provide spaces where cats can rest completely alone, limit excessive contact, conduct regular health checkups, maintain an appropriate number of cats, and provide staff with education on feline behavior.
Many cat cafes in Japan are already applying these standards voluntarily. In South Korea as well, the number of cat cafes receiving animal welfare certifications is increasing. If the comfort that cat cafes give humans is to be genuine, the cats inside must also be happy. This would be the first principle that the modern cat temple must uphold.
The Smallest Temple
As we wrap up this story, there is something to think about. Humanity has been creating spaces for cats for thousands of years. The massive temples of Egypt, temples in Japan, entire cities in Turkey, the world's largest museum in Russia, the British Prime Minister's residence, federal government buildings in the US. And now, in a small cafe in an alley.
The scale has shrunk, but the intention is the same. To create a space for cats, enter that space, and spend time with them. That this gives something to humans. Whether you call that something sacredness, healing, or stress relief, the essence remains the same. Being near a cat makes humans a little bit better. Both 5,000 years ago and today.
And perhaps your own home, where your cat lives, might just be the smallest cat temple in the world.
