The besieged Gaza Strip in Palestine has embraced the global cat cafe trend with the opening of Meow Cat Cafe, offering residents a respite from daily hardships through the companionship of furry felines. This novel concept has quickly gained popularity, drawing crowds eager to sip coffee and play with the resident cats, providing a small escape from the region’s challenges.
Naema Mabed, 52, the proprietor of Meow Cat Cafe, lovingly laid out food for a group of playful kittens during the cafe’s opening. While the cafe offers a modest drink selection, its primary draw is the opportunity for guests to interact with the resident cats. Visitors are kindly requested to don plastic shoe covers and sanitize their hands before engaging with the cats.
Mabed explained, “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.”
The cafe is thoughtfully designed to accommodate its feline residents, featuring wooden platforms for climbing and adorned with charming cat-themed murals and portraits.
For a fee of around 10 shekels ($2.65) per hour, patrons can enjoy quality time with the cats. Mabed emphasized that this fee helps cover the cats’ sustenance and essential veterinary expenses.
One delighted customer shared, “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.” The Meow Cat Cafe has undoubtedly brought smiles to the faces of its visitors, marking a unique endeavor that offers solace and a sense of joy in the midst of adversity.
