Author: Jessica_40

Catoro is a new addition to Vancouver’s cat café scene, having opened its doors for the first time on 29 July 2019. Located at 666 East Broadway, it strikes me as being a little out of the way; however, it is easily accessible by transit...if you don’t live in the area or have a vehicle. Nevertheless, Catoro is a welcomed addition for the city’s cat-lovers! The set-up of Catoro is straightforward. It features a café on one side, and a cat lounging area on the other, quite similar to another cat café in the city. What, then, sets Catoro apart? Well, quite a bit, actually. First, Catoro actually has a theme. Its name is inspired by the great anime film “My Neighbour Totoro” and uses that to build on the idea of a whimsical, magical forest. The Catoro website elaborates on this a bit further: “Catoro tells a story of a forest guardian and its companion that are on a mission to rescue the helpless and homeless cats lost within a mysterious forest.” It’s a great idea and one that can be interpreted numerous ways. Second, Catoro has partnered with the Cat Therapy and Rescue Society, which is a no-kill policy organization that takes in stray or abandoned cats in urgent need of medical care and readies them for adoption. This, to me, is quite heartening because it gives these lovely animals, which likely would’ve been put down, a second chance to find their forever homes. Third, the café portion of Catoro has a larger and more impressive selection of beverages than the other guys. Taken together, all of this allows Catoro to provide a positive, unique experience for visitors and felines alike. When I patronized Catoro it was Halloween season; as such, the cat café was all decked out for the occasion. I liked seeing the “spider webs, spiders and black cats” scattered about the café portion of Catoro – it gave visitors a little something extra to enjoy. In any event, after checking in, there was a bit of a wait so I decided to try a beverage – the Sparkling Apple with Crystal Jelly. I thought the green drink was apt given it was Halloween. Think slime or some other ominous liquid. Of course, there was nothing ominous or slimy about the drink – I was just invoking my stale imagination. I enjoyed my beverage. The apple flavour was quite prevalent and the crystal jellies added a nice textural note. Prior to entering the mystical land of cats, you are taken into a side room to remove your shoes, put on slippers, store your personal belongings and sanitize your hands. While this is going on, the friendly and attentive staff gives you a brief orientation about how to navigate the cat room and the do’s and don’ts of cat handling. I felt this was a good process because it helps to ensure the safety of the cats and visitors. Then the magic happens . . . After sanitizing and putting on your stylish slippers, you’re led through a door and into the cat forest. The space is smaller than the other cat café in town, but it’s got oodles more character thanks to the vague Totoro theme. The colourful artwork, faux greenery and large “trees” really helps to give the cat side of Catoro a great, whimsical atmosphere. The sleepy music playing throughout creates a vibe that, when combined with the cats, makes for a relaxing – even therapeutic experience. The 30 minutes of cat time (for $8) went by too quickly. It was such a joy to sit with these felines and observe their various quirks and distinct personalities. Indeed, that’s the beauty of a cat café: Unlike a typical shelter, you actually have time to get to know a cat before deciding to adopt. In that way, you do take on the role of the “forest guardian” because, if you do decide to adopt, you are helping that “homeless cat lost within a mysterious forest.” It’s a beautiful mission and one we should all thank Catoro for taking on.