Cats are charming animals, capable of stealing anyone's heart. Do you have an ARISTOGATO at home? You do not have one, but would love to have one and cannot for personal reasons.
Cat Cafés, also known as Cat Cafés, are meeting places for animal lovers, especially feline lovers. They are places where you can interact with cats while having a coffee or any other drink. In addition, if you are someone who would like to have an ARISTOGATO, you have the opportunity to adopt a new lifelong companion.
The first establishment opened in 1998 in Taiwan, becoming one of the most popular leisure establishments. From then on, it spread throughout Japan and from there across Europe, where there are now many places around the world where this feline trend is found.
In Spain, La Gatoteca, located in Madrid, is the country's first cat café. It opened in 2013. “The idea arose from Japan's example, from what they call a neko café. However, what defines La Gatoteca is the significant social role that has emerged from its work with homeless cats and its dedication to educational, therapeutic, and recreational activities involving them,” says Alex Aznar, the establishment's owner, in an interview conducted by EFEverde.
Cat Café Tour in Spain
La Gatoteca (Madrid)
La Gatoteca is an establishment located in Madrid (Argumosa Street) run by the nonprofit organization ONG ABRIGA. Its creation aimed to raise awareness of homeless cats, in the hope that interacting with people would encourage adoption.
As they rightly emphasize on their website, you do not need to come with the intention of adopting a cat; you can simply go to enjoy the experience and share wonderful moments with the felines.
La Gatoteca has certain rules that must be followed. The main one is that you may not pick up, restrain, or force the cats against their will.
Its capacity is very limited; only 20 people at a time are allowed, including a maximum of 6 children. Booking is recommended.
Polineko (Madrid)
Polineko is the physical headquarters of the nonprofit Neko Madrid association. It is the cat café designed for cat lovers, where they can meet the cats while enjoying an organic drink or infusion.
The main goal is to promote responsible, mutually beneficial adoption, allowing the animals and people to establish a good relationship beforehand so that the cats have a smooth transition when moving to their new home.
Cat Relax (Alicante)
Cat Relax is an establishment located near the center of Alicante. It is the physical headquarters of the ABAIFA association, which is dedicated to the rescue and reintegration of cats in Alicante.
The café has a homey atmosphere, where people can meet the cats while having a soft drink or enjoying some reading time alongside the pets. They can visit as often as they like and get to know them well so they can begin a new life together in a home.
If you want to visit, it is essential to fill out an application through their website. They have this measure in place to avoid overwhelming the animals.
Espai de Gats (Barcelona)
Espai de Gats is Barcelona's first cat café, where you can not only have coffee or another drink alongside the cats. They also have a library where you can read books in peace with the sound of purring in the background, and they offer free Wi-Fi.
In addition, like the previous ones, their main goal is to facilitate the adoption of adult cats staying in foster homes. Finally, they have a school and events department, where they organize workshops and courses to learn about cats' behavior, health, and communication. In general, they focus on cats' well-being.
Passatge dels Gats (Valencia)
Passatge dels Gats follows a similar philosophy to the previous ones: it allows people to meet the cats and have a good time so that they can fall in love with their personalities and help promote responsible adoptions. They collaborate with the ADAANA animal shelter, taking in these stray animals until they can find a new home.
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