CAT lovers can now get a purr-fect cuppa in Stratford.
Warwickshire’s first cat cafe has opened in the town. The concept originated in Japan for those unable to keep pets, and now there are some 15 cat cafes across the UK, including in London, Nottingham and Bristol.
The Shakespaw Cafe on Union Street – formerly the Orangemabel – is home to seven feline friends.
Four of resident cats – all named after Shakespeare characters – have been adopted and cafe owner Jayne Richman-Bolt hopes to work with rescue centres to help other cats find a home.
Jayne said the cafe – which was her cat-loving daughter Rio’s idea – had really taken off.
She added: “We’ve had a phenomenal response and the cats are really happy.
“We do have a booking system but so many people like to stop and watch them playing in the window.
“Many of our customers are destination visitors. It’s a bit like a club, people travel from all over the country visiting all the cat cafes.”
To ensure the environment remains both human and cat friendly, the food preparation area is kept separate and customers are warned not to pick up the cats, wake them or feed them.
The moggies are house cats and do not venture outside. A separate lobby area ensures they stay safe indoors.
But Jayne assured they had two floors to roam around and plenty of high up nooks and crannies, including suitcases, to sleep in.
A booking system limits customers to 15 at one time and the cats have one day off a week to recover from their human admirers.
She added: “It is all about the cats. It is their home after all.
“But they love having visitors. Our smallest cat Puck loves to curl up in handbags and Bottom loves coats.”
The cafe charges a £5 admission fee – part of which is donated to kitten rescue and rehoming charity Dinky Paws.
Visit shakespawcatcafe.com to book and for more details.
Search Dinky Paws on Facebook for more information on the charity.
