Get ready for Durban’s first cat cafe

DURBAN is set to get its very own cat café in the near future, said Niki Moore, founder of the animal activist group, Cats of Durban.

“It has been an idea I have had for a long time. Recently we had an international visitor at our organisation’s store where we sell cat food. He asked where he could see the cats, and when I told him that he couldn’t really visit them as they were all over he told me about the café they have in London, which inspired me to create something similar,” she explained.  

The cat lover said she was in the process of trying to secure a venue from which she could launch the café.

“There is a municipal property which we are considering as well as one in the Point area, but with the latter we are struggling to determine who the owner is,” she said.

According to Moore the community will be able to enjoy a library, delicious eats from a restaurant, WiFi as well as kitten therapy room.

“There are many people that live in places where they can’t keep pets, so they end up feeling disconnected. At the café they can come and enjoy a cup of coffee, read a book or browse the web while a cat lies on their lap,” she said.

What’s more, she said she also hopes to facilitate school education programmes.

“There are children growing up without pets, and many are scared of cats. We hope to remedy that and also instill a sense of love and respect for animals,” she added.

The Cats of Durban volunteers facilitate sterilisations for stray and feral cats, in order to bring down the number of unwanted cats and kittens. Contact the organisation via e-mail on catsofdurban@gmail.com.

• More information can also be found on the Cats of Durban Facebook group.

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