A cafe in Tokyo, called the Cat Cafe Calico, has 14 felines in residence which people can hire to play with whilst they relax over a cup of tea! Sound odd? The shop is not alone in offering this service, there are at least two other cafes offering the same thing.
It costs 2,000 yen to rent the kitten for three hours of play, which you do in a room where the cats hang out. The service was developed to meet a need of people who wanted the relaxing benefits of pets but could not keep one at home.
Coffee Shop Kitten Rentals
Tokyo's Cat Cafe Calico
Trend Themes
1. Pet Cafe Trend - Expanding the range of animals to include dogs, birds and reptiles could appeal to a wider audience and keep this type of cafe popular.
2. Rent-a-pet Trend - Opportunities exist to create a 'pet rental' service outside of a cafe setting, allowing people to rent pets for a longer period of time and possibly even adopt them if they bond with the animal.
3. Virtual Pet Cafe Trend - Online platforms could be created to allow people to virtually interact with pets in a similar way to a cafe setting, providing them with the relaxing benefits without needing to leave their home.
Industry Implications
1. Hospitality Industry - Creating a cafe with a unique theme, such as pets, could differentiate a business from competitors and attract new customers.
2. Pet Industry - A pet rental service, similar to bike rentals, could be developed outside of a cafe setting to cater to people who want the benefits of a pet without the long-term commitment.
3. Technology Industry - Developing virtual reality or augmented reality platforms that allow people to interact with pets online could become a lucrative business, especially with the growing market for virtual experiences.