We enjoy mall walking with our friends occasionally. As we were completing a rotation, I noticed some interesting people that were entering the mall along with one focused person who seemed to be heading to something important.
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After a few minutes we saw a gathering around what looked like a cat cafe.
Oh right... There's a sign above that should have alerted me right away.
The fellow we saw entering the mall appeared to be either someone giving a blessing for the start of a business or maybe a pep talk.
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We then saw a huge crowd that had formed in front of the cafe. By the time we made yet another mall rotation many of the customers had gone in and others were waiting.
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We looked at this sign and was rather surprised at the price.
$23 for half an hour?
$28 for 60 minutes?
With only a $5 difference, I should think you may as well stay the whole hour. It does include a complimentary drink.
This brought to mind our time in Tokyo last year with our son, daughter and their families to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary.
We stopped at a Cat Cafe in the Harajuku area because our then 4 year old RK LOVES cats. Keola and Sarah don't own a cat. They only had their dog, Mungo who passed away a couple of years ago.
But RK fell in love with cats.
So that's where we went.
Let me explain that RK is a rough and tumble boy.
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But when he went into that room full of cats, he became the gentlest, most adoring little man ever. It made us all smile to see how sweet he was with every cat he approached or if a cat wandered near him.
Unfortunately, after a half hour, we saw his face redden and hives break out around his face. His nose started to run but he did not want to leave.
It was a shock to all of us. None of us knew he was allergic to cats. He'd been near cats before but somehow this prolonged time near them caused this terrible reaction.
Sigh....
So we left the cat cafe quickly and a half hour later, fortified with an ice cream cone, RK was back to his normal self.
Whenever they return to Hawaii someday, I guess we will not be frequenting this Cat Cafe MOFF. (I did discover online that this is a Japanese franchise.)
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OMG! OMG!
I just checked my photos from our trip to Tokyo last year.
That Cat Cafe we went to in Tokyo is the same franchise that opened here in Hawaii. (This is me with Keola.)
The cost of entrance in Tokyo was about $7 for 30 minutes buuut... you had to buy a drink. 😄
Ah well... maybe there will be a dog cafe someday too.
Cat cafes are a good idea for those who want to share time with a cat but don't want to own one. What a shame for RK.
ReplyDeleteMy eldest is allergic to cats but wants to get one as a pet someday in the worst way. I'm just hoping the allergy doesn't force her to give the cat to me!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't pay to pet a cat. I would rather go out and buy a nice dinner for the same amount of money.
A wonderful idea but not if you have allergies! RK sounds like a dear little boy.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good thing RK found out he's allergic to cats before the family brought one home.
ReplyDeleteI looked after a much younger cousin who had a cat AND dog dander allergy. When he came to stay I would preclean madly to remove our dog's hair. But the boy still sniffled and hived. I was frustrated until his brother let me in on the secret that the allergic brat waited until we had all gone to bed, got up and smuggled our dog into bed with him.
ReplyDeleteThat's kind of funny actually... LOL!
DeleteOh my gosh! What a funny coincidence! And what a shocking price difference.
ReplyDeleteI've heard of these cat cafes. I thought it was a way to get some adopted. I played with a friend's cat all through school, then as a senior in high school, I broke out with some hives but my eyelids swelled up so much the lashes were turned in like teeth. I stayed away from cats. When my elementary school-aged son brought home some math papers, I began sneezing. I asked if his teacher had a cat. "Oh yes, she has a big long-haired kitty." So I never checked his math papers again. As an adult, I used to visit a friend who had a cat, and I just took a Claritin before going there and was fine. My grown son has two cats. When I lived with he and his wife for 14 months, the cats weren't allowed in my room, and I took Claritin. But I actually became slowly desensitized to the cats, just like getting allergy shots, and now cats don't pose a problem. Might want to check with an allergist to see what the little guy can do. My son, (a veterinarian,) is actually allergic to cats and dogs and took allergy shots as an adult to help prevent sinus flare-ups. Too bizarre. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how you were so badly allergic and then got over it. And it's even more amazing that your son ended up being a veterinarian although he had a bit of an allergy too. My daughter also takes allergy shots now every spring during pollen season.
DeleteI need more info. So, you get inside the premises and then there's a special cat room? When people go into the room, cats being cats, do they attempt to get out? BTW, I have a slight allergy, but I still have a cat. 😊
ReplyDeleteThe whole place is full of cats, but I think there's a little glass passageway with a door at the entrance. The cats can't escape. I think.
DeleteThat is a shame about the allergy! John is a bit allergic too and only realized it when my daughter's affectionate cat got close to his face. Mari is more standoffish and also a short haired cat! We have a new cat cafe in my town and it is rather expensive. Most of the cats are up for adoption so it serves multiple purposes.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter (now 34) also loves cats but developed an allergy to them a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteKaimuki town used to have a cat cafe also on Waialae Avenue close to 9th Avenue. It closed recently. It couldn't compete with the Japanese company.
I have allergies to cats, but if I am around them long enough, I seem to get used to them and it stops.
ReplyDeleteThat company needs to ask permission for them to use the photo of RK with that kitten. That should sell anyone to come in! So sweet. Shame he is allergic.
ReplyDeleteHey Kay, I used to be allergic to cats too, but became desensitized, just like some of your other readers. I’d sneeze and my eyes would be itchy. (Same thing with rabbits when I had them.) Now I can totally snuggle with them and stick my nose into their soft fur with no issues. Holly
ReplyDeleteHi Holly! Really? I can hardly believe you were allergic to cats since you and your sister have a gazillion pets. OK... I exagerrate. I sure am glad you overcame that allergy. I became allergic to shrimp suddenly a few decades ago and then... slowly, I can eat them again in moderation. Allergies are so weird.
DeleteThe poor lad! I guess it is good to know.
ReplyDeleteI guess I don't get out and about much, at least at malls, because I have never heard of a cat cafe. I do love kitties.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe this one. People pay to pet cats. I guess cats are very common here so no reason for a shop for cats to pet.
ReplyDeleteI am allergic to cat dander, but I put up with the runny eyes and nose.
ReplyDeleteSounds adorable, haven't visited one in person
ReplyDeleteKay, we've had cats all our married lives... loved them to bits! Lost our last one right at the beginning of the pandemic. Won't have another yet... losing her still hurts after 4 years. But she was 15. All our cats lived to be between 14 and 23. Now I've never heard of the Cat Cafe... but think it's a great idea. Now we just feed the neighborhood ferals and give them a welcome safe area in our back area by the creek.
ReplyDeleteI’m also allergic to cats, and I love them :( But now I’ve tried wearing a mask when visiting a household with cats, and I didn’t have any allergic reaction! Wearing a mask outdoors also helped during allergy season. My silver lining from Covid. Olivia
ReplyDeleteWow! Another report that I was happy to read! You really should start a newsletter or something. It might be that the amount of cats in the closed environment and the fact that they are in there all the time may have pushed the allergens to a super high level. It could be that just went interacting within one other cat outdoors or in a ventilated space. The young gentleman will be happy and not have a red face. Anyway, always fun seeing you k. Thanks for sharing with us. Aloha from townside!
ReplyDeletePlease excuse the bad dictation I really have to edit these before hitting publish. Mahalo, Kay
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