Cats calm Gaza cafe customers

Adding to the ever-growing list of cat cafés the world over, is the Meow Cat Café, which has recently opened its doors in Gaza City. These cat cafés, where clientele can sip a beverage at the same time as stroking a feline friend, are mushrooming as individuals seek to unwind from the troubles of everyday life.

And it was exactly this sentiment that spurred Nehma Maabad to embark on the cat café venture.

Nehma Maabad: "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. That's where the idea of the café came from. It combines the concept of a normal coffee shop with a cute twist of having your cup of coffee while playing with a cat that will make you smile and forget about the pressures of life beyond the walls of this shop."

The establishment benefits Palestinian inhabitants by guaranteeing much needed respite amidst desperate living conditions. Gaza City, which has been placed under an Israeli blockade since 2007, bears the deep scars of repeated battles played out between Palestinian militants and Israel's military.

One regular, clearly charmed by the café's furry friends, is Manar Abu Samra.

Manar Abu Samra: "It's a wonderful idea, especially for cat lovers. 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."

Essential living expenses for the creatures are financed via a small admission charge - amounting to roughly $2.65 hourly - to the cat section of the coffee shop.

Nehma Maabad:"The entrance fees for the cat zone are purely aimed at covering their food and drink. The café section functions like any other normal café in Gaza."

Manar happily forks out the money, which also funds any veterinary-related expenses incurred, in addition to subsidising a selection of play areas for the kittens.

Manar Abu Samra: "Someone who loves cats will come visit and won't care about the cost, but I don't think its entrance fees of nearly 10 shekels ($2.65) per hour to play with the cats is a high fee. It's appropriate."

While the therapeutic qualities of stroking an animal continue to come to light, it's reasonable to assume that the trend in cat cafés like Nehma's will carry on gaining momentum.

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