cat cafs are a relatively new phenomenon sweeping through japan a country long fascinated with petspet country it was in this country where you could first take your dog or cat for a pedicure or a spa shortly after gift shops for pets sprung up followed by restaurants dedicated to feeding your pet specially prepared delicacies the animals would be seated while their human caregivers would be left outside were not kidding there are many funeral homes and cemeteries for cats and dogs and now cat cafes when in japan in japanese tradition guests are asked to perform a cleaning ritual they are then led to an education room where they are instructed on correct behaviour guests are then ushered into a large room with a caf bar in the corner and hundreds of cats everywhere charms of a changing society the more affluent timepoor and lonely a society becomes the greater the need for pets japanese research has shown that the more time we spend touching pets the longer we live so with the help of a government grant many such homes in japan have invested in expensive robotic pets that breathe snore shrug yelp and indeed respond to their owner with sounds of recognition when they see them heading west will this somewhat crazy yet undeniably thoughtprovoking trend be confined to japan or will it find a place in the western world think about it apart from the perfunctory handshake when was the last time you touched another person we touch our smartphones mp3 players et al but as for touching humans well thats another story entirely even indians known to give pappis and jadu ki jhappis are beginning to shy away from touch pet inc a reality you never look stupid or inappropriate petting a dog or a cat and when we do it satisfies our basic need for touch it wakens us to life and living beings and can conjure up warm memories of deep connection with our childhood pets the need for touch is hardwired into our being and if we dont get our share therell be an influx of pet cafs pet gift shops and what have you besides its adorable on the other its the expression of a desperate human need for touch and connection in our increasingly disconnected lives