Cats have a well-deserved reputation as a lazy man’s pet, largely due to the fact that they groom themselves, sleep a lot and only occasionally need a pat on the head. That being said, feline keepers do have to clean poo and clip their pet’s nails, both chores that we can say from experience are not overtly fun. But that’s where cat cafes come in: you pay to play with kitties and leave the poop-scoopin’ to someone else.
The Oxford English Dictionary officially adopted the words ‘cat cafe’ into their dictionary in 2015, attesting to the proliferation and popularity of the concept. The first cat cafe opened in 1998 in Taipei, but it wasn’t until much more recently that copycats began to pop up on the Chinese mainland. Now, you can find cat cafes in many of China’s largest cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and, of course, Guangzhou.
Below, we introduce you to four feline-friendly cafes in Guangzhou that you can check out right meow!
Meow Cafe (Beijing Lu) 就是这样的喵
Image by Tristin Zhang/That’s
Located near popular foodie hangout Beijing Lu, Meow Cafe is popular with young urbanites and, when we visited on a weekday evening, a throng of curious pedestrians were standing around outside taking photos.
Upon entering the cramped shop, visitors are asked to remove their shoes and put on plastic foot covers, as well as wash their hands. Store policy is as follows: you can stay for no more than two hours, there’s no admittance of children under 6 years old, each customer must order at least one drink or food item and those afraid of being scratched or bitten should reconsider their visit. Another rule states that visitors are not allowed to hold or cuddle the cats. Staff will also warn visitors about engaging with four particularly fierce cats whose mugshots adorn the walls: Blue, Old Yellow, Yuanyuan and Little Tramp.
Image by Tristin Zhang/That’s
The three-year-old cat cafe offers reasonably priced set meals that feed one, two or four patrons. Prices for drinks, however, are steep, with the price of a cup of coffee starting at RMB40.
It’s also worth noting that those in Haizhu can visit Meow Cafe’s second location, which is on Gexin Lu near Taigucang Wharf.
See listing for Meow Cafe (Beijing Lu).
Release Pressure Cat Coffee 释压猫屋
Image by Tristin Zhang/That’s
Tucked away in a small residential neighborhood near Tiyu Xi Lu, Release Pressure Cat Coffee is located on the second floor of an apartment building and houses 12 cats. Amongst the felines prowling in the coffee shop are species such as British shorthair, Persian longhair, ragdoll and Maine coon, and 11 of the shop’s cats were raised by store owner Li Peiwen.
Li, who is in his 20s, opened Release Pressure two months ago after becoming what he bizarrely describes as a “slave to cats.”
Image by Tristin Zhang/That’s
Unlike Meow Cafe, this coffee shop is spacious enough that customers won’t feel cramped, and Li and his helper start and end each day by sterilizing the room to ensure the shop is clean and as hygienic as possible. One of the main fixtures of the space is a giant wood-block ‘tree,’ which is there to satisfy the cats’ desire to climb stuff.
As far as culinary offerings go, the cafe serves tasty cakes and fruity beverages and guests are required to purchase a drink (RMB28 for a glass of juice).
See listing for Release Pressure Cat Coffee.
Galaxy Cat 猫星系
Image by Tristin Zhang/That’s
Set in the shadow of the mighty Canton Tower is Galaxy Cat, a shop that feels more like a cat-lover convention than an actual business. It attempts to stand out from other cat-focused cafes by hosting weekly role-playing board game events and a music night.
A total of 11 cats roam the two-floor cafe, 10 of which were specifically purchased to help offer young singles an ‘emotional anchor.’ The only kitty owned by Galaxy Cat’s proprietor is an old white ragdoll named Duoduo.
Image by Tristin Zhang/That’s
This shop’s menu focuses mainly on beverages and snacks. The fried fish balls cost RMB25 and we find them decidedly average. That said, one particular cat seemed to like the fishy snack and hopped up on the table to come take a look at our food.
Following in the footsteps of other cat cafes, Galaxy Cat asks for a RMB25 entrance fee. Regulars are encouraged to purchase a membership card, which entitles them to an extra RMB50 for every card top-up of RMB200.
More Than Meow 猫主题吴止猫餐吧
Image by Tristin Zhang/That’s
The first thing that grabbed our attention after entering More Than Meow was the animal odor that hung about the place. Inside, a number of cats were showcased in a glass room near the stairs leading to the second floor. A few felines wandered about, and occasionally a hairless Sphinx cat jumped onto our table.
What sets this venue apart from the others on this list is the fact that it isn’t a cafe. With a full menu of Western and Japanese dishes, including pasta, steak, German sausages and unagi rice, among others, we consider More Than Meow a full-fledged restaurant.
Image by Tristin zhang/That’s
Drink options here are numerous and range from alcoholic beverages such as wine, to coffee, milk tea and milkshakes.
See listing for More Than Meow.
Note: none of the cafes featured in this list allow customers to bring their own pets. Also, if you do choose to visit one of these locations, remember that flash photography is not a good idea around cats.
For more F&B news, guides and features, click here. For more helpful guides to living in Guangzhou, click here.
[Cover image by Tristin Zhang/That’s]
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