When East Meets West

Tucked away in a quiet backstreet of the city’s historic precinct, overshadowed by the monumental clock tower of St. Leopold’s Cathedral, resided a coffee house of most unusual nature. Not in the sense that it might make you second-guess your visit when taking a first glance at the menu, but that it featured an environment that was, let’s say, unconventional to the Westerners’ eyes.

A type of themed café whose popularity has spread far beyond the land of the rising sun. The ideal destination for anyone yearning for some charming companions whilst savoring their beverage. Now before you get the wrong impression, it should be noted that it wasn’t one of those fabled maid cafés that Juliet had grown a liking for. Rather than a cohort of waitresses dressed in fairy-tale-like uniforms, the beings she was surrounded with didn’t wear a single piece of clothing at all — a realm that adhered to the rule of paw.

It never ceased to put a smile on Juliet’s face whenever she caught a glimpse of first-time visitors getting surprised by one of the free-roaming cats huddling against their legs. The same joyful smile she displayed upon receiving her order, struck in awe by the barista’s meticulous attention to detail. While the coffee aficionado that she was had seen her fair share of latte art, the shape of a cat paw definitely was a first for her. A symbol that aptly conveyed the playful atmosphere the place exuded. Animals leaping across the numerous cat trees that adorned the interior — a harmonious chorus of meows and purrs filling the air — kids shaking and twirling their feather toys, enticing their feline companions to showcase their acrobatic prowess.

In spite of the lively ambiance, her stays there were anything but unproductive. This was thanks to the many animals prowling around her table. Their curious eyeballs watching Juliet’s every move. For once, it was her who became the observed. A role that implied a certain degree of pressure. Nothing like the traumatizing experience of performing her botched rendition of Jingle Bells at the Christmas family reunion, but rather a gentle, much-required kick in the bum. It was as if their expectant gazes magically imbued her with a burst of passion and determination, and more importantly, managed to keep her in a state of focus. That was until one of her whiskered friends voiced their demand for attention, adamantly kneading Juliet’s hips in hopes for some sort of compensation for their service. 

A gesture the girl couldn’t say no to. For a devoted cat lover like herself, it was the purrfect opportunity to get her money’s worth of quality pet time without the commitments of actually owning a cat. Probably not the kind of symbiotic relationship evolution was going for, but still a much-welcomed outcome for all parties involved.