Adopting a cat is one of the best decisions that you can ever make. Aside from gaining a lifelong furry companion, you are also saving a life and giving them a new opportunity to thrive. One of the best places to adopt one is from a cat cafe.
Cambodia is a country that lacks animal welfare laws. Thus, some organizations and institutions are stepping up to take care of stray cats and dogs. If you ever decide to adopt a cat, the best way to do it is through a cat cafe like Ministry of Cat.
What is it like for cats and dogs in Cambodia?
Cats and dogs in Cambodia live a poor, unhealthy life. The prominent issues for cats and dogs living in Cambodia are, but not limited to: humans stealing and killing them for food, limited and poor veterinary care, lack of vaccines which raises the risk of rabies, and abandonment of strays at pagodas.
The sad thing is that many people believe that discarding unwanted cats or dogs at the pagodas is a humane way to treat the animals since the monks will feed the animals. Even though the monks will give cats and dogs rice and other food scraps, many of them may suffer from lack of food or care.
Cats and dogs need an adequate water supply, food, vaccines, and affection from people. Since Cambodia is a poverty-stricken country, most individuals do not have access to proper education to understand the real needs of these animals.
A lot of the stray cats have mange, parasitic infections, worms and even rabies. Current researches state that an estimated 500,000 individuals suffer from severe dog bites in Cambodia. More than 800 people die annually in Cambodia due to a lack of vaccination and medicine for rabies.
Cats, however, can contribute to the rabies problem just as much as dogs. Cats in Cambodia have been reported for scratching individuals and leaving them sick for many days. The claws of cats who live on the street sometimes carry parasites and other diseases that are fatal to humans if left untreated.
What is a cat cafe?
Before we delve into cat cafe history, it’s important to know what it is first.
A cat cafe is a lounge designed for cats to lounge, nap, and play while individuals have coffee or dessert. Some cat cafes have living room areas where you can play with them while enjoying your coffee, tea, or other cafe beverage.
The first cat cafe opened in Taipei, Taiwan around 1998. It was known as “Cat Flower Garden” but has been renamed to “Cafe Dogs & Cats. Currently, Asia offers 400 cat cafes across Japan, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and many other countries.
Becoming knowledgeable of the cat cafe history will cause more cat cafes to evolve in many cities and countries nationwide. This is a great thing, as some cat cafes help local rescued stray cats get adopted to a loving home.
How does Ministry of Cat support the rehoming and adoption of Cambodia's stray and injured animals?
Ministry of Cat is a cat cafe located in the heart of Cambodia, and provides shelter for stray cats. Ministry of Cat only offers the stray cats a temporary home. The long term goal for Ministry of Cat is to find the strays a forever home through the adoption process offered by a veterinary clinic, Animal Mama.
Many customers come into the Ministry of Cat to get a warm cup of coffee and mingle with feline friends. Once the customers interact with the cats, they will quickly fall in love and want to adopt their new feline pet. Ministry of Cat does make sure the cats are going to a good, stable home before they are released to their new pet parents.
What can you expect when you visit the Ministry of Cat cafe?
Ministry of Cat brunch menu offers mainly healthy, plant-based vegetarian and vegan food. Local businesses also supply cakes and pastries to this cafe. The atmosphere of this Ministry Cat Cafe is similar to Parisian-style decorations and themes. And of course, the cutest adoptable cats in cat cafe history are the main attraction here.
If you want a cozy, happy place in Cambodia to hang out in, do visit this cat cafe. Even if you’re not looking to adopt a cat, just hanging out with the rescued felines will truly help. You can enjoy delicious food, snap a photo of the cafe, and share it on social media to raise awareness about Ministry of Cat and what they do.
Vegan cat and dog food: is it healthy?
Many animal owners are considering giving their cats and dogs vegan food. And while this is a good intention to end animal cruelty, it also has its pros and cons.
Cats are biologically carnivores, so while plant-based cat food is available online, it would have to be properly supplemented with cats’ essential nutrients. Dogs, however, are biologically omnivores so they can more easily adapt to organic vegan dog food. Before changing their diet, it’s best to consult a veterinarian first to ensure the well-being of your animal friend is retained. There could also be many benefits to our companion animals eating a plant-based diet, as plant foods contain a higher proportion of healthy nutrients, vitamins, antioxidants, and such.
This post is sponsored by the vegan marketers at Ardor SEO who wish to remind everyone to adopt, don’t shop.