Cat (and a few dog) cafés are popping up everywhere, offering the purrfect retreat for some quality time

Whether you want to spend some quality time with cats because you can’t or don’t have your own, or you have beloved felines at home but just want to meet more (because let’s be honest, there’s always room in a cat-lovers heart for others!), the recent growth of cat cafés worldwide is testament to our love of all things animal.

The concept of animal cafés originated in South East Asia, and is a growing trend worldwide over the last few years. Nowadays, many cities boast at least one cat café. Dog cafés, though few and far between, are appearing in some locations now too.

Recognising the therapeutic value of being around animals, cat cafés offer an escape from the stresses of everyday life, where customers can have some refreshments in calm surroundings, amid the feline residents. Responsible cat cafés put the cats first, so everything is on their terms. There are rules about how to interact with the cats; they can choose whether to greet or play with you (they will have lots of other distractions such as toys, cat towers and climbing areas to distract them, as well as a quiet area that they can retreat to if they don’t feel sociable). Your food and drink is prepared in a separate area, and served with covers that keep inquisitive paws and noses out!

Some of the best cafés are affiliated with cat rehoming charities. Indeed, the resident pussies are often originally from a local sanctuary. Some also offer an adoption service for their cats, so customers can start the adoption process if they would like one of the café’s cats, if they meet the right criteria.

If you would like to support your local cat café, there are some helpful websites that list UK locations. Try https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/articles/making-paw-sitive-changes-the-best-cat-cafes-in-the-uk/

and,

https://www.studentproblems.com/best-cat-cafes/

For dog cafés, https://www.culturecalling.com/uk/features/top-dog-cafes-across-the-uk.

If you’re venturing further afield, many locations around the world have cat cafés, just search for your destination plus ‘cat café’ and see what pops up! You will usually need to book a time slot
for your visit in advance, and sometimes there is a lower age limit restriction for young children, or numbers of children are limited to maintain a tranquil atmosphere.

A welcoming group at the Cat Village café in London

Courtesy © of London Cat Village

Image © Dachshund Cafe via Facebook

Enjoy discovering your own favourite cat or dog café!

Short-haired dog TLC

Everyone loves, and deserves, a good pamper session, and our four-legged friends are no exception! Many assume that long-haired breeds need the most care and attention when it comes to grooming, but that's not the case. In today's blog, we look at tips for keeping your short-haired dog clean and fresh!

Not sure if your dog is a short-haired breed? A useful rule of thumb is if they have very straight hair, with coat length of around one inch (2.5cm) or less. Examples of short-haired breeds are:

• Labradors
• Greyhounds
• Great Danes
• Boston Terriers
• Staffies

Give them the works! 

Short-haired dogs may not be moulting, so obviously, as they shed slowly throughout the year. For this reason, regular brushing is essential; at least once a week (more if your dog is prone to shedding). When brushing your dog's coat, make sure to cover all areas, and not just the obvious spots like the back and face! Take extra care when brushing areas such as ears, tail, tummy, legs and paws. As an added bonus, all of this brushing will help to stimulate the production of protective oils, which will help to ensure that their skin and coat are in a healthy condition. 

Rub-a-dub!

When it comes to bathing your dog, it's best not to do so too frequently. Unlike their long-haired counterparts, short-haired dogs only need to be bathed around once a month, unless they get extremely dirty or muddy. More frequent, and you risk stripping their coat of its nature oils. Use a shampoo designed for dogs, and ensure this does not get into your dog's eyes.

Here's a really nifty tip: combine grooming with a general health check. Run your hands over your dog to check for lumps, bumps, cuts and bites; inspect the condition of your pup's skin, ears and gums; examine their paws, toes and nails. As always, if you have any concerns, be sure to get your dog checked over by your vet. 

The future is meat-free ...

The rise in popularity of flexitartian, vegetarian and vegan diets is not just the latest fad to sweep social media, but actually linked to a growing consciousness of the state of our ecosystem.

With companies such as Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, and supermarkets like Waitrose and Sainsbury's paving the way with plant-based alternatives, is it any wonder that a new report has predicted that by 2040, around 60% of meat products consumed will be either cultured or plant-based alternatives? 

Conventional meat production not only raises concerns about the welfare of animals within the process, but can also have a detrimental effect on the environment. There have always been ethical questions surrounding meat production, but now recent scientific studies have shown the huge environmental impact these processes have, from destroying wild habitats to make way for farmland, to the pollution of rivers and oceans. 

The report in question, by AT Kearney1, denotes that by 2040, an estimated 35% of all meat products consumed will be cultured, whilst 25% will be plant-based alternatives. 

"For passionate meat-eaters, the predicted rise of cultured meat products means that they still get to enjoy the same diet they always have, but without the same environmental and animal cost attached," said Dr Carseten Gerhardt, a partner at AT Kearney.

Due to the vast majority of the population being used to a meat-orientated diet, it is likely that cultured meat will win out against vegan alternatives in the long run. However, the growing industry of these plant-based products will be fundamental in the transition phase.

With these sorts of diets proving to be good for animal welfare, our delicate ecosystem, and our  own health and wellbeing, this news is a positive step towards an all-round better way of living.

1 https://www.atkearney.com/retail/article/?/a/how-will-cultured-meat-and-meat-alternatives-disrupt-the-agricultural-and-food-industry