Gaza City: A cat cafe in the Gaza Strip aims to "cheer up" Palestinian residents and offer them a respite from the trials of daily life, its owner said.
Image Credit: AFP
2 of 12
At the Meow Cat Cafe which opened this week in Gaza City, owner Nehma Maabad set out food for a clowder of kittens.
Image Credit: AFP
3 of 12
"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," said the 50-year-old.
Image Credit: AP
4 of 12
Part of the space is kitted out with wooden platforms covered in astroturf for the cats to clamber onto, while feline murals and portraits adorn the walls.
Image Credit: AFP
5 of 12
Meow is part of a growing global trend of cat cafes.
Image Credit: AP
6 of 12
Customers pay nearly 10 shekels ($2.65) per hour to play with the cats, which Maabad said covers their food as well as costly vet bills.
Image Credit: AP
7 of 12
Visiting the cafe, Manar Abu Samra said it was reasonably priced and she had told her friends and sisters about the new venture.
Image Credit: AFP
8 of 12
"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," she said.
Image Credit: AFP
9 of 12
Pets are rare in Gaza although cats are ever-present, particularly around the port or fishmongers as they try to paw away some scraps.
Image Credit: AFP
10 of 12
Maabad said she had cats at home to bring to Meow, while others came from friends.
Image Credit: AFP
11 of 12
"The idea of the cafe was to have something nice with a cup of coffee," she said. "A cat that you play with and it makes you smile and forget the pressures of life."
Image Credit: AP
12 of 12
Children hold felines at the newly inaugurated Cat Cafe in Gaza City.
Image Credit: AFP
This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized service to you.
Both on your website and other media. To find out more about the cookies and data we use, please check out our Privacy Policy.