Cat cafes have risen in popularity across the UK, offering visitors the chance to enjoy coffee and cake while interacting with resident felines. However, SkyNews reports that leading animal welfare charities, including the RSPCA and Cats Protection, have raised concerns over the well-being of cats housed in these environments.1 Instead of calling for an outright ban, some industry professionals and cat welfare advocates argue that stricter regulations could be the key to ensuring these establishments continue to operate, but ethically.
Animal Welfare Concerns
RSPCA cat welfare expert Alice Potter explained to SkyNews, “While 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.”
Welfare experts’ primary concern is that most cats’ natural social structure does not align with the conditions found in cat cafes. “Generally, cats are not sociable, and many felines often prefer to live without other cats or prefer to form social groups with their relatives,” Potter added. With multiple unrelated cats housed together and a constant flow of human visitors, the potential for stress is high.
Daniel Warren-Cummings, a central behavior officer for Cats Protection, noted that stress in cats is not always obvious to the untrained eye. “Some cats adopt a strategy of feigning sleep when they are stressed, leading consumers to mistakenly assume they are simply resting,” he explained. Unlike dogs, which may outwardly display stress through vocalizations or body language, cats tend to withdraw and exhibit more subtle indicators of distress.
Cats are territorial animals, and their well-being depends on having enough space to establish their own areas for resting, eating, and toileting. When forced into shared spaces with unfamiliar cats, stress-related behaviors can emerge. Signs of feline stress include excessive sleeping, excessive grooming, hiding, reduced appetite, and aggression.
A Growing Industry With Unclear Regulations
Currently, there are more than 30 licensed cat cafes in England, with nearly half of these licenses issued in the past financial year. However, charities worry that many more may be operating without proper oversight due to unclear legislation. Existing regulations classify cat cafes under rules concerning the keeping or training of animals for exhibition, rather than as pet welfare establishments.
Both the RSPCA and Cats Protection argue that refusing to issue new licenses—and not renewing old ones—would ensure that these cafes are gradually phased out. “Cats in cat cafes are essentially being used for entertainment – and are often licensed as such – so we are concerned that they are paying the price for this by having a poor quality of life,” Potter stated.
Calls for Better Regulations
Despite these concerns, some industry professionals believe that rather than an outright phase-out, stricter regulations could improve the welfare of cats in these settings. Lauren Pears, owner of Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium in East London, expressed support for more oversight: “Some things I would look for in a reputable cat cafe include age limits, restrictions on capacity, and dedicated cat care staff.”
She also suggested that there should be more regulations around the training requirements of new cat cafe owners. “Observing how the industry has grown over the years, I feel that entrepreneurs wishing to open a cat cafe should be required to hold or acquire animal husbandry qualifications in order to open a business like this to ensure they understand the welfare implications of their decisions,” Pears said. “I welcome regulation and scrutiny of the industry.”
In other countries, stricter regulations help mitigate welfare concerns. In Japan, where cat cafes are extremely popular, cafes must adhere to strict guidelines regarding the number of cats allowed, the presence of quiet rest areas, and the enforcement of limited customer interactions to reduce stress.
In the United States, cat cafes must comply with a variety of local and state regulations, which can vary significantly. Many require cafes to meet specific zoning laws, obtain business and animal welfare permits, and maintain proper sanitation standards to prevent contamination between food and cat areas. Some states also have laws mandating regular veterinary check-ups and limits on the number of cats allowed in a cafe at one time.
The Future of Cat Cafes
The debate over cat cafes highlights the delicate balance between providing unique experiences for animal lovers and ensuring the ethical treatment of the animals involved. While some advocate for phasing out the industry entirely, others believe that with the right regulations and responsible ownership, cat cafes could operate in a way that prioritizes feline welfare.
Possible compromises include limiting the number of cats in a single cafe, ensuring ample quiet spaces, and requiring cafes to operate under more rigorous animal welfare regulations. Some businesses have experimented with foster-based models, where cats are rotated in and out for adoption, reducing the stress of long-term cafe life.
As the conversation continues, one thing remains clear to us: the well-being of cats should always come first.
What are your thoughts? We’d love to hear from you.
Animal Welfare Concerns
