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The first animal cafe was a cat cafe established in Taiwan in 1998. With its ability to give non-pet owners and animal lovers time to spend with their favorite animal companion, the concept of animal cafes spread internationally, with the idea becoming especially popular in Japan. In fact, Japan has the most animal cafes in the world, closely followed by South Korea and Taiwan, with other countries such as Spain, Germany, the US, etc. also establishing new animal cafes. Though there are endless kinds of animal cafes, among the most popular are dog and cat cafes—this makes sense since dogs and cats are domesticated animals and the most common pet animals. Though this may be true, however, many animal cafes exploit their animals solely for money, don’t follow ethical animal welfare rules, and may encourage customers to buy animals instead of adopting.
Why do people go to animal cafes?
Animal cafes attract animal lovers who may not have the time or resources to have a pet, yet still want an animal companion, albeit only for a few hours. For example, those who live in big cities may not be able to have pets, and animal cafes offer the experience of playing with animals without having the responsibility of raising an animal. Outside of dog and cat cafes, other cafes that house more exotic animals attract foreigners, tourists, and those who want to have the experience. Currently, there are reptile, hedgehog, bird, and rabbit cafes that have attracted many customers, but still face controversy among animal experts and advocates.
Owl Cafes
Several owl cafes can be found in Japan, primarily in the Asakusa area. Though animal cafes are not a new concept, owl cafes are relatively new and invite numerous visitors on a daily basis. They typically feature chained and caged owls in a well-lit place, who are exposed to thousands of humans holding, prodding, and petting them. This is especially problematic because owls are nocturnal; they naturally sleep during the day and hunt during the night to avoid predators, heat, and exposure to bright lights. Their eyesight is adapted to the dark, and therefore they are especially vulnerable during the day. Furthermore, the owls are rarely given a chance to fly or move, and in some cases have to endure loud music blaring on the speakers all day. This is clearly a form of neglect, abuse, and exploitation. Though some cafes do allow owls to fly, it is cruel to expose them to an unnatural environment, especially since owls are not domesticated animals like cats or dogs. Experts describe that animals have “certain behavioral needs that are specific to the environment they evolved in”, and equate a wild animal living in an animal cafe to humans “permanently staying in a loud theme park on its busiest day, with no respite from the noise and people around us.”
Dog Cafes
Though hundreds of dog cafes worldwide aim to house former shelter dogs that would have been euthanized or promote adoption by letting customers interact with shelter animals, there are others that do not respect animal welfare or rights. An example of this is a dog cafe in Chengdu, China, which painted dogs to look like giant pandas. The cafe used this as a marketing gimmick to stand out in the competitive pet cafe market, and though the owners claimed that the dye did not pose a threat to the pets’ well-being, studies have shown that hair dye can cause severe burns and pain. Additionally, the dyeing process can be stressful to dogs, pose possible infections or allergies, and can expose them to toxins. In one study by Tufts University, they found that a Border Collie who “ingested natural hair dye, henna, developed a life-threatening case of anemia”, which involved weakness and vomiting, and had to be treated with IV fluids to survive. In 2018, PETA discussed a case where a dog had critical burns because of hair dye that was used on his body. These studies illustrate the potential physical harms of using hair dye on dogs, and why this dog cafe completely neglected its responsibility to animal welfare. Like many others, it was using dogs for money and popularity, while risking the dog’s safety, health, and happiness.
Hedgehog Cafes
Hedgehog Cafes are a unique type of pet cafe, but several do exist in Tokyo. Like owls, hedgehogs are nocturnal but are exposed to bright lights and people’s touch during the day. Wildlife biologist DJ Schubert describes that it is “completely inappropriate” to allow the public to “touch and harass” these animals. Unlike dogs and cats, hedgehogs are not domesticated, and they are by instinct wild animals. Because hedgehogs are, by nature, wild animals, it doesn’t make sense to have an animal cafe that features them. In Japan or any other country, hedgehogs are not the animals that are being euthanized or bred excessively for the pet industry. Hence, there is no reason to be advertising them as pets or animals to constantly handle and prod at.
How can animal cafes be made more ethical?
Understanding animal’s needs and their natural environment is essential for ensuring proper animal care and ethical treatment in animal cafes. For example, hedgehogs and owls are naturally nocturnal animals who are not domesticated, so having animal cafes that advertise them as such is unethical. However, taking into consideration their wild nature and need for rest and privacy, animal cafes can limit the number of customers able to enter the store and consult with professionals to see which cages and environments are ideal for these animals. Additionally, ensuring that animals have a space to go without customers, loud noises, and bright lights will ease their stress and allow them to relax. No matter the animal, even domesticated animals like cats and dogs, a noisy environment every day can put an unbelievable amount of pressure on them and lead to annoyance or violence against visitors. Lastly, animal cafes can aim to promote adoption through giving information sessions, putting up posters, and communicating with customers. Currently, hundreds of thousands of animals are euthanized annually due to overcrowding in shelters, so animal cafes can show customers animals up for adoption, and why adoption is so important. This way, animal cafes can make money and also reduce the euthanization rates globally.
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