Kattakaffihúsið
LOCATION: Reykjavik, Iceland
WEBSITE: kattakaffihusid.is
OWNERS: Ragnheiður Birgisdóttir & Gígja Sara Björnsson
YEAR OPENED: 2018
CAT CAPACITY: 7 to 8
SUMMARY
Kattakaffihúsið is located in downtown Reykjavik, just a short distance from the two major shopping streets, Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur (also known as Rainbow Street). These two adjacent streets feature boutiques, restaurants, bars, tourist shops, galleries, and the famous rainbow street that leads to the stunning Hallgrímskirkja church. In summer months, the streets are crowded with tourists who come to enjoy the beauty of the city and the many festivals, shops, and cultural events. Cats are beloved in Reykjavik, and you can spot them all around the city, including in neighborhood yards and nestled in shop windows. While puffins are featured on most merchandise, the surprise treasure of Reykjavik are the local cats. If you wander long enough, you may come across a “cats rule this town” t-shirt or artwork. And the best place to get some kitty time in Reykjavik is at Kattakaffihúsið (Cat Coffee House). The exterior of Kattakaffihúsið, just like the inside, features a signature floral cat design created by artist Helga Björnsson. Once inside the café, you enter a cozy space that is pink, floral, feminine, and filled with soft couches, chairs, and places to snuggle up with their adoptable cats. Beautiful vegan pastries and cat-themed latte art add to the experience.
In Iceland, it is common for people to reinvent themselves and start careers that move them in new directions. This was the case for longtime friends and animal lovers, Ragnheiður Birgisdóttir & Gígja Sara Björnsson, as they began to make plans for opening Iceland’s first cat café. The two friends talked about opening a café for years and identified several possible locations. This dream became a reality when a series of events, including the lease becoming available at their current location, and an easing of health laws to allow for animals within restaurants (Iceland has very strict laws regarding animals), led to officially opening their doors in March of 2018. Kattakaffihúsið opened with a flurry of media attention, both national and international, and has become one of the most well-visited tourist spots in Reykjavik.
RESEARCH FINDINGS
In my interview with Ragnheiður Birgisdóttir and in my many visits to her café, two of the research findings stood out:
Research finding: Cat café owners start with a range of cat rescue and adoption experiences.
In the United States, it is common for cat café owners to partner with local cat rescues to identify adoptable cats to feature at their cafes. While there are two cat rescue organizations in Iceland, one focusing on TNR and feral cats and a second organization that serves as a cat shelter and hotel, Kattakaffihúsið works independently of each cat rescue. At Kattakaffihúsið in Reykjavik, Ragnheiður works directly with people in the community and vets to identify adoptable cats for the café. Local vets reach out to Ragnheiður when a healthy cat is brought in for euthanasia, and she is able to offer them a safe space. Ragnheiður also reaches out to individuals who are looking to rehome their cats, for a variety of reasons, including a loss of housing or changes in personal circumstances. Kattakaffihúsið prioritizes older cats and cats who receive less interest from the community. This direct-to-individual approach ensures that some of the most vulnerable cats have a chance for adoption.
Research finding: Cat café owners consider a number of ethical and practical issues when choosing or accepting shelter or community cats into their café.
As mentioned above, Kattakaffihúsið prioritizes cats that are at risk for euthanasia or need to be rehomed. There are also many ethical considerations that go into the adoption process. In our interview, Ragnheiður discusses some of the precautions she takes to ensure that the cats find a good home. These include not adopting cats out around Christmas (as cats are not presents or gifts), not adopting a cat as a plaything for a child, and ensuring that the adopters understand that cats are a long-term commitment and that they will need regular medical care throughout their lives.
