The cat café is a concept common in both Japan and Korea and, as an admirer of pet cats, street cats and even the odd sand cat, something that I wanted to try out. Here, customers can drink iced lattes while cats
of every description sit, play, sleep and generally have a lovely time.
At the cat café in Hongdae in central Seoul, cats greet you before you even make it through the door, sitting languidly in the area for removing and leaving shoes that is a standard part of Korean residences. There were cats on the floor, in their beds, on specially-fitted walkways close to the ceiling.
A large hairless cat slept in a box on a wall near us, and was far from impressed with the attention it received from me when it briefly woke from its busy period of slumber. A long-haired ginger cat ran around, excitedly chasing diverse toys and trying to reach all of them before any of the other cats.
A white Siamese cat approached in a friendly manner, even though its features had a serious, stand-offish quality that for some reason reminded me of Shakespearean actor Charles Dance. A little dark-haired kitten lay back, resting in a position that can best be described as “sleeping ajoshi”, its legs spread-eagled at an unnatural angle.
I went along to the cat café with hostel-roommates-turned-couchsurfing-contacts-turned-friends. We were surrounded by cats. There must have been nearly 25 cats in all, coexisting in an area too small for them in peace, much like the human inhabitants of their home city. I couldn't have wished for better company all round.
At the cat café in Hongdae in central Seoul, cats greet you before you even make it through the door, sitting languidly in the area for removing and leaving shoes that is a standard part of Korean residences. There were cats on the floor, in their beds, on specially-fitted walkways close to the ceiling.
A large hairless cat slept in a box on a wall near us, and was far from impressed with the attention it received from me when it briefly woke from its busy period of slumber. A long-haired ginger cat ran around, excitedly chasing diverse toys and trying to reach all of them before any of the other cats.
A white Siamese cat approached in a friendly manner, even though its features had a serious, stand-offish quality that for some reason reminded me of Shakespearean actor Charles Dance. A little dark-haired kitten lay back, resting in a position that can best be described as “sleeping ajoshi”, its legs spread-eagled at an unnatural angle.
I went along to the cat café with hostel-roommates-turned-couchsurfing-contacts-turned-friends. We were surrounded by cats. There must have been nearly 25 cats in all, coexisting in an area too small for them in peace, much like the human inhabitants of their home city. I couldn't have wished for better company all round.
Thank you to Sarah for the pictures of me being given the run around by some Korean cats.
