The Differences Between European And America Cat Cafés
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3. Oakland: An active adoption center.
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In addition to being a fun place to hang out and get coffee, the Cat Town Café in Oakland, California, is a dedicated nonprofit adoption center. All of the cats are available for adoption, and to date over 600 animals have been placed into permanent homes.
4. Paris: A second chance for adopted cats.
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Unlike at their Californian counterpart, the cats at Café des Chats are permanent residents. Some have been living at the café for years, and as you can see have a bit of a laissez-faire attitude.
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6. Paris: Répondez s’il vous plaît.
You absolutely must make reservations if you want a table at Café des Chats. Especially if you are interested in a weekend brunch! Walk-ins are generally not accommodated.
7. Oakland: Reservations definitely recommended.
If you want a guaranteed space in the cat zone you should make a reservation online. But even if you forget, they often have day-of availability, and if you can’t get into the playroom you could at least chill in the café and watch the cats through the windows.
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9. Oakland: We’re playful attention-seekers.
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Because of their adoption turnover rate, the cats at Cat Town Café usually have a recently renewed outlook on life. Meaning they’re playful, interested in people, and love attention!
10. Paris: We’re jaded and somewhat indifferent.
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As permanent residents, the concept of visitors is nothing new, or exciting to the seasoned cats of Café des Chats. Occasionally one might jump on a table or nearby chair, but don’t expect anyone to chase a fake mouse toy.
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12. Paris: The cats roam free.
Although the entry, dining area, and kitchen are separated by doors, the cats pretty go wherever the fuck they want.
13. Oakland: The cats and the café are strictly divided.
Security at Cat Town Café rivals that of the Oakland airport. Because of California health regulations, the food service has to be totally separated from the cats, meaning human visitors must pass through multiple doors in order to reach them.
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15. Oakland: Pour-over coffee and premade snacks.
The beverages are yummy, as are the snacks (check out the adorable kitty cookies), but it’s really more about the experience at Cat Town Café.
16. Paris: An incredibly delicious multicourse meal.
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The food at Café des Chats is downright amazing. There’s bread and butter, then a full plate of food, followed by insane desserts. Plus it’s a seated meal. The staff brings the food to your table while the resident cats do as they please.
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18. Paris: The service is great, but not overly friendly.
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The employees make a good meal, and take the table service seriously, but they aren’t all that friendly. For instance, they’ll let you stand out in the rain for a good five minutes past your reservation time if they aren’t ready to open. True story.
19. Oakland: The staff is helpful and informative.
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Both the volunteers in the cat zone and the baristas at Cat Town Café are friendly and engaging. They offer up plenty of information about the cats and definitely help make the visit an enjoyable experience.
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21. Oakland: Hidden gems in the restrooms.
Make sure that you visit the bathroom at Cat Town Café — the art is awesome!
22. Paris: Not really anything to brag about.
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The bathrooms are pretty standard Parisian water closets.
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24. Paris: You’re paying for the meal.
A full brunch for two (including coffee and juices) will set you back a good €60. A little on the pricier side, but seriously, the food is worth it!
25. Oakland: Frugal fun with cats.
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Coffee and snacks sell for only a couple of bucks and you’ll need to make a $10 donation if you want to enter the cat zone. Additional donations are always welcome, but a visit to Cat Town Café definitely won’t break the bank.
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27. Oakland: A fully stocked gift shop complete with shirts, posters, and more!
Plenty of options to show your cat café pride!
Read more http://www.buzzfeed.com/mathewguiver/the-battle-of-the-cat-cafes?utm_term=4ldqpia
