Croatia’s first cat cafe opened only 5 years after Takako Ishimitsu introduced the concept to the Austrian public in 2012. And they loved it. There are currently over 60 cat cafes in Europe, and 2 years after Zagreb, in 2019, Osijek also got its very own cat haven. The pioneers of the cat cafe movement in Croatia were spouses Maja Mudrovčić Garvan and Domagoj Garvan. Delighted by the idea of giving the people a place to come and relax in the presence of cats, they persevered in the face of Croatian bureaucracy which never before had to issue permits and licences for a cafe which doubles as an animal residence. To the excitement of Zagrebians, Cat Caffe opened its door in October 2017 at the address 6 Kušlanova Street.
Almost half a decade later, Cat Caffe has become a home to a dozen cats. Its initial residents – Frieda, Poussey, Big Boo, Flaritza, Crazy Eyes, Taystee and Nicky got their names after the characters of the show Orange Is the New Black. All cats who live in Cat Caffe have been officially adopted from Fauna, an animal rescue shelter in Kutina by Maja and Domagoj and have been neutered and through the process of socialization.
In Cat Caffe, everything revolves around putting cats’ needs first. There are double doors at the entrance to prevent the cats from wandering off into the street and a safety net on the terrace. As soon as you enter, you’ll be greeted with a list of rules to follow during your stay. It’s forbbiden to touch the cats when they are eating and sleeping. It’s also prohibited to pick the cats off the floor and other surfaces and take photos with your camera’s flash on. The rule of thumb is to wait for cats to make the first move. If they are in the mood for a cuddle, they will make their wishes known. Otherwise, sit back and enjoy your drink – there is a variety of positively mouth-watering options with intriguing names and lots of sparkes and glitter.
Patrons are invited to stay as long as they like – there are even board games you can play during your stay and, most recently, cat-themed merchandise ready for purchasing.
Cat Caffe is truly a shrine raised in the honour of cats – the walls are graced with cat illustrations and sayings and there is a special resting area where cats can relax after a busy day of observing the visitors.
Care was taken with every detail – even cups and teaspoons bear the design developed together with a local artist. Unfortunately, some people like it so much that they decide to play dumb and take it home with them, something which has been happening a lot recently and has forced the owners to monitor security cameras even more closely. So, if you decide to go for a drink, look, but don’t touch (or take with you) anything without permission. When in doubt, follow the cats’ lead – don’t do anything a self-respecting cat wouldn’t do.
For more on lifestyle, CLICK HERE.
