Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Workers having to work at home or in remote locations can now work in the company of a dozen beautiful cats in a lounge-like decorated café, Cat Café “Mocha Lounge.”

The cafe in Shibuya, one of Tokyo’s most trendy parts, attracts remote workers with their laptops who enjoy petting cats and giving them treats.

“I come here to play with cats because I cannot have them at my place,” said Yumi Kanamaru, a cat lover.

“Mocha” has 19 shops throughout Japan and this particular shop in Shibuya Koen Street has 24 purebred cats. The staff brush the cats’ coats every day and all the cats are kept in tip-toe shape to greet customers.

The cats come from undisclosed breeders and all were priced around 200,000 Japanese yen (approximately $2,000) except for the Russian Blue with its exotic face. The Russian Blue is the main mascot of the café and the most expensive cat at around 300,000 yen (about $3,000).

The pandemic has seen a slight slowdown in business but the café still keeps their employees busy. A lot of young couples visit the café, but on weekdays remote workers come to get their work done while frolicking with the cats.

The cost is 200 yen (nearly 2 US dollars) per 10 minutes for adults, 2,750 yen to stay all day and 1,550 yen for children under 18, with unlimited drink bar access.

For an extra 500 yen, cat treats are available and customers can be surrounded by spectacular cats – until they run out of treats.