Feline Fun for All at Cutie Cats

Jakarta Globe, Lisa Johanna Keemink, Mar 17, 2015

The cats are the often indifferent stars of the show that is the newly opened
Cutie Cats Cafe in Kemang, South Jakarta. (JG Photos/Lisa Johanna)

Some say the world has gone to the dogs. Nihilism aside, judging from the rapidly growing number of cat cafes popping up around the globe in recent years, the world is obviously going to the cats — and Indonesia is no exception to the overload of fluffy cuteness.

Jakarta cat lovers, go ahead and let out that suppressed squeal of delight (you know you want to) at the news of Cutie Cats Cafe, the first of its kind in the archipelago. Since the late 1990s, Asia has seen a boom in this CATegory of feline-friendly businesses, but Jakarta’s first taste of this growing trend hopes to set itself apart in several ways.

The sheer concept of a cafe where customers pay money to be surrounded by cats is so bizarrely quirky that it had to have come from Japan, the land of all things adorable — with an unconventional twist. But surprisingly enough, the world’s very first cat cafe opened in Taiwan in 1998.

“Japanese tourists coming to Taiwan, they took on the idea and then the first one opened in [the year] 2000-something in Tokyo and that’s actually the place where the most cat cafes are at the moment,” explains Michael Kurtz, co-owner of Cutie Cats Cafe. “There, the people have the same problems [as in Jakarta]; there, the people live in very small places that are very cramped. [So] it’s quite popular for people to go to cat cafes, to sit and relax, and play with the cats of course.”

Japan now boasts more than 150 cat cafes, according to Smithsonian magazine, while Singapore has five. Other cities to join the fray include Bangkok, Melbourne, Sydney, London, Vienna and Munich. Thanks to Michael and his wife Lia Kurtz, the driving force behind their establishment, Jakarta now also has a cozy haven for cat lovers.

(JG Photos/Lisa Johanna)

 Located in Kemang, South Jakarta, the capital’s unofficial center of contemporary art, hipster hangouts and expat housing, Cutie Cats Cafe is a purrfect fit for the area — especially in the row of pet shops, independent boutiques and modern furniture stores on which it’s nestled. For those craving a meal — or a pint — after their visit, Bremer Beer Garden, Tree House and Pizza Barboni are a short stroll away.

The cafe isn’t the easiest to spot; situated above a boutique, the first telltale sign of the place is a narrow glass door with a logo of a smiling yellow cat. Look up, and if you’re lucky you’ll spot one or two of Cutie Cats’ residents lounging against the floor-to-ceiling window of the second floor.

Once through the doors, a hallway leads to a flight of stairs where you’re greeted with that familiar cat smell — one all cat lovers know and love. And though the quaint counter of Mama Cats Kitchen looks inviting with its range of cakes and drinks, all you’ll want to do is dash over to the framed window for a look at the furry occupants on the other side. Before entering, however, you’ll be asked to hand over Rp 55,000 ($4.20) for your first hour of play time, exchange your shoes for a pair of sandals, and spread a few drops of sanitizer on your hands.

Don’t expect a rousing welcome; cats will be cats and though they might give you an apathetic glance, they’re more likely to lay their heads back down on a comfortable pillow, sharpen their claws on one of the room’s many scratching posts, or leap onto a maze of perching platforms fixed to the wall. The best time to have the room and all 16 cats to yourself is at opening time, 10 a.m. Business picks up an hour later, and as per the Jakarta social landscape where nothing is done individually, customers come in hordes.

“Afternoons are quite full, evenings are really full and weekends are packed. We take reservations from people with prepayments,” Michael says, urging guests who have booked their spot to arrive on time. Should the cafe reach its maximum capacity of 20 people, including up to five children and one Cutie Cats employee, you won’t have the option of exceeding your allotted time. The cafe has even had to turn away visitors who show up without a reservation on a busy day.

A month after its launch, Michael says the response has been overwhelming, joking that he and his wife would have created a larger space “if we had known from the very beginning that so many people would come.”

Store manager Lisa concedes that she and her staff were caught completely off guard on opening day.

“It was completely full. People were lining up,” she says. “We actually only expected guests who were friends of [the Kurtz’s] or maybe their relatives, but we immediately received real customers!”

The cafe’s priority remains its brood of 16 cats, which includes a Bengal, several Exotics, Himalayans, Scottish folds, Persians and mixed domestics. Guests are given a strict list of Dos and Don’ts to follow, available in English, Japanese, German and Indonesian: do play with the cats, but use only the toys made available; feel free to take pictures and tag them @cutiecatscafe on Instagram, but don’t use the flash; by all means, pet the cats, but not while they’re asleep; and above all, please don’t pick them up. Ultimately, these rules amount to one holy tenet: The felines are in charge and we are mere congregants of their cuteness.

Even cafe employees are always at the ready to do their bidding, with the start of each day dedicated to their grooming needs — a part of the job Lisa finds most challenging.

“Sometimes [the cats] are on the very top platforms and we have to [coax them down],” she says. “Or they run away and we have to chase them. It can be a real struggle.”

Throughout the day, Lisa and her staff keep a sharp eye on the cafe’s goings on, making sure the cats are treated well and cleaning out their litter boxes as often as needed. Hygiene is another top priority, which is why — unlike many other cat cafes — the kitchen and cake display are kept separate from the play room, Michael explains.

The treats on offer at Mama Cats Kitchen are “foods that cats typically don’t like,” he adds. “We only provide cakes and savory things” to ensure the cats don’t try to sneak a bite.

But that still doesn’t stop Spotty, a black-and-white Persian mix and one of the most active of the bunch, from deftly hopping onto my table and tentatively sniffing at my carrot cake with wide, expectant eyes. The 1-year-old is also one of the more fearless, approaching anyone holding a cup of juice or cupcake with, well, cat-like curiosity. Another spirited member of the family is 6-month-old Argo, a beautiful Bengal who roams around the elevated bridges, leaping gracefully from one platform to another like his wild cousins. Seven-year-old Candy, an Exotic and the eldest of the group, prefers to lounge on the carpet, giving the toys waved in front of her an indignant glance before once again closing her eyes for a snooze. And then there’s the baby: 3-month-old Usagi (rabbit in Japanese) is a gray-and-white Scottish fold who perhaps attracts the most attention for being just so darned adorable.

Come to Cutie Cats Cafe at your own peril; these furry felines will melt your heart and leave you planning your second, and third and fourth trip for more cuteness overload.

Rino Kakinuma, 7, plays with toy poodles, beagles and a golden retriever

at the Dog Heart cafe in Tokyo, February 22, 2015 (AFP Photo/Yoshikazu Tsuno)

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Kryon Q&A

Question: Dear Kryon: I live in Spain. I am sorry if I will ask you a question you might have already answered, but the translations of your books are very slow and I might not have gathered all information you have already given. I am quite concerned about abandoned animals. It seems that many people buy animals for their children and as soon as they grow, they set them out somewhere. Recently I had the occasion to see a small kitten in the middle of the street. I did not immediately react, since I could have stopped and taken it, without getting out of the car. So, I went on and at the first occasion I could turn, I went back to see if I could take the kitten, but it was to late, somebody had already killed it. This happened some month ago, but I still feel very sorry for that kitten. I just would like to know, what kind of entity are these animals and how does this fit in our world. Are these entities which choose this kind of life, like we do choose our kind of Human life? I see so many abandoned animals and every time I see one, my heart aches... I would like to know more about them.

Answer: Dear one, indeed the answer has been given, but let us give it again so you all understand. Animals are here on earth for three (3) reasons.

(1) The balance of biological life. . . the circle of energy that is needed for you to exist in what you call "nature."

(2) To be harvested. Yes, it's true. Many exist for your sustenance, and this is appropriate. It is a harmony between Human and animal, and always has. Remember the buffalo that willingly came into the indigenous tribes to be sacrificed when called? These are stories that you should examine again. The inappropriateness of today's culture is how these precious creatures are treated. Did you know that if there was an honoring ceremony at their death, they would nourish you better? Did you know that there is ceremony that could benefit all of humanity in this way. Perhaps it's time you saw it.

(3) To be loved and to love. For many cultures, animals serve as surrogate children, loved and taken care of. It gives Humans a chance to show compassion when they need it, and to have unconditional love when they need it. This is extremely important to many, and provides balance and centering for many.

Do animals know all this? At a basic level, they do. Not in the way you "know," but in a cellular awareness they understand that they are here in service to planet earth. If you honor them in all three instances, then balance will be the result. Your feelings about their treatment is important. Temper your reactions with the spiritual logic of their appropriateness and their service to humanity. Honor them in all three cases.