Cafe Purrfection brings furry friends to Roseville for hugs and coffee for all ages

THEY may be sweeping the world, but the cat cafe craze has found a new home on the north shore. Children under eight are purrfectly welcome – if they can sit still for 20 minutes.

Chatswood Cat Palace owner Dr Kim Kendall has opened a cat cafe that offers cat lovers the opportunity to have a coffee and pet a range of cats which she says is good for everyone's health. Customer Fiona Sams had her own cat pass away recently and enjoys the company of the cats to help with the grieving process. Picture: Toby Zerna

THE cat cafe craze is coming to the north shore, and children under eight are purrfectly welcome – if they can sit still for 20 minutes.

Unlike some cat cafes, the new Roseville premises – Cafe Purrfection – is open to all ages, as long as the younger customers are able to keep calm and sit quietly.

Cat cafes have become a sensation around the world, but one in Melbourne made headlines last year for banning children under eight.

Veterinarian and author Dr Kim Kendall has already had a trial run of the cafe and said family group visits had proved successful.

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Renee Newham enjoys a cup of coffee with her kitten as another cat cafe prepares to open in Sydney. Picture: Adam Taylor

“Children are very welcome, in fact we have had wonderful feedback from the kids, but we do say they need to be able to sit calmly for about 20 minutes,” she said.

“It is really interesting how “Zen” even the younger kids become – the cats seem to tell them they need to be quiet. We made a “sitting still for 20 minutes” rule rather than age rule because, well, some 50-year-olds can’t sit still.”

Seven trained cats are available for patting and purring sessions while customers enjoy coffee or bring their own snacks.

Anita Loughran opened a cat cafe in Melbourne last year. Picture: Jason Edwards

Due to stricter health regulations in Australia than overseas, the food offerings are sparse, but the healing health benefits are huge, according to Dr Kendall.

“Cats purring, in fact, has been linked to lowering stress and the likelihood of having a heart attack, and even strengthening bones,” Dr Kendall, the only cat vet in Australia qualified in cat behaviour, said.

The cafe’s cats, including two rag dolls and five mixed tabbies, were all rescued and have been selected to have the right temperament.

Fiona Sams enjoys a cuddle with a cat at Cafe Purrfection, while owner Dr Kim Kendall looks on. Picture: Toby Zerna

The felines, trained by a friend of Dr Kendall’s who usually trains cats for TV ads, are brought out on a lead for their 20-minute patting sessions.

“They actually sit on your lap or a cushion, and afterwards they have a quick catnap – it’s like a human who’s gone out to a party and met new people, they need recovery time,” Dr Kendall said.

Customer Fiona Sams, whose cat Sophie passed away a few months ago, has enjoyed visiting the cafe.

“Sophie was my whole world. I never had children so she was my child,” she said.

“Spending time in the company of other cats at Cafe Purrfection is very therapeutic and has definitely helped to ease the loneliness of losing my Sophie. There’s nothing quite as soothing as patting a cat and listening to it being content … and purring away.”

Belinda Russo prepares kittens to be used in at the Melbourne cat cafe. Picture: Alison Wynd

WANT TO GO?

Pictures and bios of the cats are at Dr Kendall’s veterinary practice website chatswoodcatpalace.com.au, where customers can select a moggy and book at a cost of $20 an hour (with free coffee) on 9417 3329

Japanese youths pat a cat at a Tokyo cafe. Picture: AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA