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Japan’s “cat cafes” face uncertain future

Animal activists: “These cats are being stroked by people they do not know”

For thousands of Japanese workers it is the ideal place to unwind and soothe their stresses after a hard day in the office, but “cat cafes” are now under threat it seems.


Tokyo’s “Neko cafes” offer customers the chance to pay a premium for their coffee in exchange for the chance to pet the cats that stroll among them. But the future of these establishments may be threatened with new legislation that outlaws the display of animals after 8:00pm.

The law came about after the Japanese environment agency received more than 155,000 complaints from the public over the treatment of animals in Tokyo's entertainment districts.

"From morning to night these cats are being stroked by people they do not know,” animal welfare campaigner Chizuko Yamaguchi told AFP. “For the animals, that is a real source of stress.”

Cat cafe manager Shinji Yoshida said he will have to close at peak trade times was the law comes into force.

"It is a huge blow to us cat cafes,” he said. "If I close this cafe at 8:00 pm, I'll see red ink."