Cat cafes should be ‘phased out’ due to animal welfare concerns – RSPCA

The RSPCA and Cats Protection are calling for cat cafes across the UK to be “phased out” over concerns about the animals’ welfare.

It follows a surge in openings of the cafes, which allow customers to interact with resident cats and even adopt them, over the last year.

However, the two charities said the cafes should not be operating because it was “almost impossible” to meet the welfare needs of cats in this environment, where they were likely to be stressed by enforced proximity to other felines and strangers stroking them.

They fear that the cafes give their cats limited opportunity to hide or escape and no outdoor access to roam and express their natural behaviour, and there was also the risk that competition for resources could lead to some cats not eating enough and not being able to use the litter area as it may be guarded by another animal.

Some cafes left their cats overnight in “incredibly small” pens, which also restricted their natural behaviour, while some were inside shopping centres leaving the animals unlikely to see daylight or breathe fresh air.

There are currently more than 30 cat cafes licensed in England, with 44% of those licences granted in the last financial year, according to a recent freedom of information request to all councils in England and Wales by the charities.

However, they believe that many more cat cafes are operating without oversight or regulation because of unclear legislation.

RSPCA cat welfare expert Alice Potter said: “We adore cats and so we understand the appeal of cat cafes.

“However, whilst cats, cake and coffee might be a happy combination for people, for the cats living 24/7 in these cafes it’s likely to be a very different story.