Cat cafe opens up in the Gaza strip bringing pawsitivity to besieged city
The besieged Gaza Strip in Palestine has now joined the global cat cafe trend, where people pay to have coffee, hang out, and play with cats, opening up Meow Cat Cafe with the goal of cheering up the Palestinian residents.
The cat coffee shop offers Palestinians a little breather from the exhausting daily life to escape the territory’s troubles, the citizens flocked on Thursday.
Naema Mabed, 52, the owner of Meow Cat Cafe, set out food for a clowder of kittens during the opening. The cafe offers a modest drink service and encourages guests to head straight to the cat corner to pet and play with the furry friends. According to Mabed, the rules of entry are simple; visitors must cover their shoes with plastic and wash their hands before cuddling the cats.
“Cats, for me, are a refuge that relieves me of psychological stress. So I thought of creating a project that combines serving people with something to cheer them up,” she said.
Part of the cafe are covered with wooden platforms for the cats to climb onto, and feline murals and portraits cover the walls.
Customers pay around 10 shekels ($2.65) per hour to play with the cats, which according to Mabed covers the food and their costly vet bills.
“The quality of cats here is beautiful and sweet, so it’s a wonderful idea — despite its strangeness to society — and when I heard about it I felt happy,” she said.
Pets are not common in Gaza despite them being ever-present.
“A cat that you play with and it makes you smile and forget the pressures of life.” she added.
The cafe in Gaza is a part of a global trend, however, circumstances in the city are different. The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007 with a population of 2.048 million, making it the largest open-air prison in the world.
Meow Cat Café, Tel el-Hawa, Gaza City. First time in Gaza. If I understand correctly, this is not for cat owners to bring their cats, but a place for people (children?) to come and play with kittens and cats. Like a petting farm. The price is 5 shekels for 1/2 hour or 100… pic.twitter.com/VZfRBAYIhY
— Imshin (@imshin) August 16, 2023
