First Gaza cat-cafe opens joy

Naeema Mea’bed fulfills her passion for cats by opening the “MEOW Cat Cafe” in Gaza. The café, the first of its kind in the region, boasts a cat-themed ambiance with mirrors, flower vases, and posters featuring the 14 resident cats available for guests to interact with.

The café’s opening drew a long queue of eager customers, prompting Mea’bed to accommodate more tables and seats for families who brought their children to enjoy the feline experience. For a fee of $1.30 per half hour, visitors can indulge in the joy of playing with the cats while sipping on their coffee.

Through a glass partition, parents can watch their children interact with the cats, providing a delightful experience for both young and old alike. Mea’bed was inspired by her childhood passion for cats and aimed to share that joy with others.

According to Mea’bed, cats serve as natural antidepressants, offering a source of happiness and stress relief for visitors, even if just for a few minutes. The café primarily houses Persian cats but also welcomes Turkish angora and hybrid felines.

While some Gazans questioned the feasibility of such a project given the region’s economic challenges, patrons like Rewa Abdel-Hadi, 20, defended the café, emphasizing its value as a source of joy and relaxation in Gaza’s bustling landscape.