Earlier this yr I had the pleasure of visiting Cat Metropolis Cafe in Oakland, CA, formally the primary cat cafe to open inside the US. The cafe opened in 2014 as an extension of the already thriving Cat Metropolis Oaklanda non-profit group began in 2011 and centered notably on rescuing shy, senior and completely completely different at-risk cats.
On account of Cat Metropolis works primarily with cats that may in each different case be thought of “unadoptable” I used to be excited to get a tour of the cafe and see how they’ve designed the house to accommodate this specific inhabitants. Older cats and particular needs cats with the rescue sometimes maintain in foster properties whereas the cats which is probably on the cafe are fastidiously monitored to ensure everyone seems to be doing efficiently, plus the setting might very nicely be very efficiently Catified. Let’s take a tour!
Upon coming into, buddies are greeted with a gaggle of informative indicators explaining how Cat Metropolis is run and outlining the foundations for visiting with cats all through the cafe — at all times suggestion for any cat cafe.
The primary cat room, typically known as the Cat Zoneis a big open dwelling with large dwelling dwelling home windows and plenty of pure light. It’s actually an ideal dwelling for each cats and completely different people to carry spherical, plus folks passing by can look inside and see the cats through the day, an effective way to attract in potential adopters!
The Cat Zone is crammed with unbelievable customized cat buildings designed to appear like well-known buildings in Oakland. These are actually only a few of the most effective cat buildings I’ve ever seen. Not solely are they stunning, nonetheless they perform very efficiently for the cats.
A part of the rationale for Cat Metropolis’s success in working with this tougher inhabitants of cats is that, over time, they’ve consulted with licensed cat conduct consultants Mikel Delgado and Dilara Goksel Parry from Feline Minds. Mikel and Dilara had been concerned in designing the Cat Zone together with the cat buildings, making concepts to assist the buildings be extra cat-friendly. As you possibly can see, there are at all times numerous openings so cats gained’t really actually really feel trapped, and the buildings are solely as tall as is also merely reached by workers and volunteers.
Ann Dunn, the Founder and Authorities Director of Cat Metropolis and Co-Founding father of the cafe, has good factors to say about working with Feline Minds:
“With cats having such a elaborate relationship to their setting, and to 1 one different, working with cat behaviorists on the house design was crucial. Feline Minds shared so many concepts, large and small, that helped create an house the place the cats really actually really feel protected, from excessive of the hiding buildings to location of the litter bins. We’re so grateful for his or her assist!”
Clearly, the cats approve of the design! AND LOOK AT THIS TACO TRUCK!!!
An vital a part of the Cat Zone is the Quiet Zone, an house that provides a bit extra privateness for cats who might be feeling overwhelmed by the cafe setting. This small room off to the aspect of the principle dwelling has a six-room dwelling that cats can entry from the doorway or the as soon as extra, as quickly as additional stopping the sensation of being trapped. Cats can retreat to this quiet dwelling to take a break or seize a cat nap. Feline Minds advisable that the room have numerous entrances, so extra holes had been lower all through the wall permitting cats to return once more and go freely.
As a backdrop for the cat buildings, large vibrant murals by Fuming Gorilla Productions cowl the partitions with pictures from Oakland and the Bay Home together with whimsical cartoon animals.
There are furthermore some very ingenious Catificaiton Hacks all through the Cat Zone. Elementary IKEA cupboards have been turned on their sides and used to create these fabulous cat climbing buildings.
They even lower holes all through the perimeters of the cupboards to create pass-throughs for the cats. An IKEA kids’s desk and chairs add the proper splash of shade (plus the plastic is straightforward to wash!)
You enter Cat Metropolis by the precise cafe, the place you should buy drinks and snacks. The cafe portion of Cat Metropolis has modified a bit since I used to be there and is now the RAWR Espresso Bar promoting all pure uncooked cat meals and treats made by RAWR along with human refreshments.
As quickly as I was there you may furthermore decide up every kind of fulfilling souvenirs, together with cat-themed t-shirts, tote baggage, patches and the Hoodcats Calendar from Cat Metropolis Cafe co-founder Adam Myatt, aka The Cat Man of West Oakland.
Must you happen to’re ever in Oakland, please ensure that to cease by Cat Metropolis Cafe for a go to! Actually, you must plan a go to merely to go see them!
Web site on-line: cattownoakland.org
First {{photograph}} by Cathy Niland, Cat Metropolis; all completely completely different images by Kate Benjamin.