wide-Eyed passers-by look in on the cats Birk, Nelson, and Bear is located in the shop windows. And despite the fact that the cafe is not opened yet, it is a dozen or so prospective guests that go straight in through the temporarily unlocked the front door.
– There are very many who are curious, especially since we took away the plastic from the windows, ” says Elina Thorsell who is the site manager (previously known from the pop group Timoteij).
Java Whiskers in Stockholm became Sweden’s first kattkafé entirely of its own kind. It combines coffee, cakes and cats – a concept that is supposed to deter cats homelessness and contribute to both human and cats ‘ well-being. The nine cats that are now available in the venue comes from the katthemmet Solgläntan.
– We have created an environment where the cats will get stimulation and can satisfy all of their needs. But it is also good for cats in a larger perspective as we raise an important question. There are approximately 100.00 homeless cats and our activities help to ensure that more of them get a permanent home, ” says Jon Bäcklund.
Image 1 of 4 Bruno (rear) and Birk (back) cuddles in the shop window at this new kattkaféet Java Whiskers on Surbrunnsgatan 48. Photo: Nicklas Thegerström Slide 2 of 4 site manager Elina Thorsell and co-owner Jon Bäcklund has not previously worked in kattverksamhet but thrive with the new society. Photo: Nicklas Thegerström Image 3 of 4 the Cats Nelson, Bear, and Barbie is hanging out in the café. Photo: Nicklas Thegerström Image 4 of 4 the Cats Kevin and Barbie can not sit still and try to keep an eye on the café. Photo: Nicklas Thegerström Slideshow
Jon Bäcklund, which is one of the initiators and the owners of the café, tells me that he started to look at kattkaféer after a tip from a friend about similar activities in Japan, USA and Europe.
” We want to do a good thing for both cats and people. When we realized that there were prerequisites to be able to do it here in Sweden, we decided. We have visited several kattkaféer and tried to combine the best elements from them here, ” he says.
The brown cats Barbie and Bodil seems to enjoy it and jump around among the människoknän and along with the café’s walls. At the cafe, will Barbie and the Bodil and their seven kattkompisar stay together 24 hours a day all year round. On the days, the beasts are going to have the companionship of the cat and cafépersonal as well as the guests who come to visit.
the Café opens on February 16 and for 150 dollars the hour will the as want to be able to have a coffee and a cuddle with the cats in the spacious kafélokalen adapted with play – and klätterytor from the floor to the ceiling. For those who do not want the cats on the skin going there to have a coffee in the entrance free of charge and look at the animals through a glass wall. As the cats come from a shelter, they will also be adopted.
“You could say that it is like a shop window, you want to adopt, you get to talk with the staff here and then refer you to the katthemmet Solgläntan, which may assess if you can adopt,” says Elina Thorsell and pats the cat Barbie.
Image 1 of 3 site manager Elina Thorsell and co-owner Jon Bäcklund playing with the cats in their new kattkafé. Photo: Nicklas Thegerström Slide 2 of 3 – You do, do not feed the cats, we will have a lock even on the porslinkopparna, says site manager Elina Thorsell. Photo: Nicklas Thegerström Slide 3 of 3 Passers-by stop and look at the cats Bruno, Birk, Barbie and Bear chiller in the window. Photo: Nicklas Thegerström Slideshow
Included cats, however, is not welcome to Java Whiskers, the cafe owner do not want to disturb their home environment. The owners are also trying to protect the cats from the children and young people under the age of 12 are only welcome on Mondays with a parent or guardian.
” Our main focus is that the cats must have it quiet and safe. We will try to have the children here, but for the cats sake it is something we must evaluate, ” says Jon Bäcklund.
the Cats will also receive regular visits from a veterinarian, and the staff follows custom-made checklists made by an ethologist to be able to assess how the cats feel.
in Addition, there are rules for visitors who are not allowed to follow after the cats or feed them. Because the animals have a room of their own where they can withdraw, eat and rest in so will be socialising volunteer for the cats, says the owners.
– Our first priority every day is to make sure that the cats feel as good as possible and that everything is on their terms, ” says Elina Thorsell.
the Cafe, which is the first of its kind to obtain a permit for kattverksamheten by the County board. In order to be able to seek and be granted a permit for the activity with the cat you need to comply with the requirements contained in §16 animal welfare act.
– It is required, inter alia, that the cats have the opportunity to be up high, can claw and climb on the walls, there are different places where they can jump up and be. There must be a completely private room where they can go escape when they want to without people can get there, ” says Jon Bäcklind.
Thus, it was essential that the café was completed, and is adapted to the cats before they could even apply for a permit.
– There are no rules that are adapted to the kattkaféer in Sweden as it had previously not been a business like this in Sweden, but if you have an idea that there is a great need of so there are always ways to achieve it, ” says Jon Bäcklund in the middle of the deck with Nelson and the Bear.
Jon Bäcklund playing with the cats Nelson and the Bear. Photo: Nicklas Thegerström
Since they got the green light from the County, it has gone fast. Java Whiskers cats have moved into a post since January, and when the café opens to the public on 16 February there will be nine cats in place. The cats have had time to settle properly at each other.
– Five of the cats are actually siblings. We can’t have the cats here and it has been important that they will think about people and do not carry much trauma, ” says Jon Bäcklund. Animal rights has been monitoring the development of kattkaféet and see the new activity as something that can contribute to more homeless cats get a home of their own.
Animal rights has been monitoring the development of kattkaféet and see the new activity as something that can contribute to more homeless cats get a home of their own.
– Spontaneously, we are positive that they take into account their needs, think on relocation and work closely with the katthemmet, ” says Anna Harenius, expert ethologist.
the cats are alone at night see Animal rights is not a major problem since cats are more often alone in the shelter than they will need to be at the café.
” A cat shall have supervision two times a day and that they will have. Almost all animal husbandry on a larger scale are without supervision at night, both on, for example, dairy farms as well as in zoos, ” says Anna Harenius.
also Read: Classic café Valand go in the grave
But the road to opening has not been an easy one. When the three largest shareholders to Java Whiskers, Jon Bäcklund, Tobias Larsson and Joakim Wessman bought the classic premises, from the pastry shop of fine art in June, they were not prepared for the resistance they would meet. When they got access in september, I began a petition to stop the demolition of the old pastry shop. Java Whiskers owners have understood that fine art meant a lot to many loyal customers, but want to emphasize that they have been clear with their intentions from the beginning.
” People have been disappointed that this has happened and we have understanding for. While many are pleased that there has been a refurbishment of the premises because it was in very bad condition, ” says Jon Bäcklund.
– There are those who believe that we had been able to choose any local at any time, but it is not true, it should align with the ceiling height and natural light from different directions and it can’t be anywhere either. We have been open with from the start that we do not buy it here to engage in the Valand school of fine arts here, but in order to do something else, ” says Jon Bäcklund.
