Twenty years ago in Taipei, Taiwan Tracy Zhang opened Cat Flower Garden, the world's first cat cafe. Sadly, barely anyone noticed.
It took years before the public warmed up to the idea of having cake, coffee and conversation in the presence of cats. But once word reached the shores of Japan the concept exploded and in 2005 Neko no Mise or Shop of Cats, located in Machida a city south of Tokyo, became the islands first cat cafe.
While feline cafes are as popular as ever in Japan, animal-themed spots of all kinds have quickly gained momentum there. From owls to hedgehogs, snakes, rabbits, meerkats, and pugs the trend continues to bloom, and recently the world has caught on.
Today animal cafes are popping up on both sides of the equator. As a result, the variety of creatures you can meet while sipping on coffee or tea has grown exponentially.
Whether you're into Siberian Huskies, Fireleg Tarantulas or Sulphur Crested-Cockatoos there's a cafe somewhere in the world that's got you covered. Here are some to keep in mind while dreaming up your next adventure.