[ads1] [dropcap]T[/dropcap]he newest craze sweeping the world is cat cafes, and Cubao City in the Philippines is no exception! This town has six cat cafes so far and more are sure to pop up as the craze gains popularity. The newest, and in our opinion coolest of these cafes is Bengal Brew. This cafe opened in August 2015 and is already seeing a steady stream of visitors.
This success is due largely in part to the cats themselves. While all cat cafes are special, Bengal Brew has exclusively Bengal cats. 18 of them to be exact. Owner Don Michael Perez got the idea for the Bengal themed cafe from his cat, Amir. He wanted to create a cafe that Amir would feel at home in and that customers could visit to appreciate the magnificence of the breed.
The Bengal cats at Bengal Brew vary in size and color due to their breeding. These gorgeous cats came to the cafe from all over the globe, and Amir is currently the only long haired Bengal cat in the country.
The Interior Of Bengal Brew
If you make the trek to this amazing cat cafe a jungle themed building awaits you. The building was designed with the cats in mind and made to resemble the natural habitat of wild leopards. There are raised walkways, trees both real and artificial, a large garden pond, a vertical garden, and lots of hammocks and cat beds. The centerpiece of the cat area is the garden pond. It features waterfalls, caves, and the access doors to the cat’s cattery. Visitors who are feeling adventurous are welcome to climb to the top of the feature to look down on the rest of the area and to visit with the cats who may be perched up high.
As cool as the cat area is, the cattery is pretty great too! While visitors aren’t allowed access to this area of the building, rest assured the cats are living in style. There are cat trees, comfy beds and even an air purifier to keep the pampered kitties comfortable when they aren’t showing off for their adoring audience. Afraid the cats will get lonely at night? Don thought of that too and hired someone to sleep over with the cats and make sure they are safe when the cafe is closed.
If you are worried about the smell at Bengal Brew you have nothing to worry about. Deodorizers spray every five minutes in both the cattery and the jungle sections of the building to keep everything smelling fresh and clean.
The Bengal Cat Cafe Experience
When you are ready to visit Bengal Brews your adventure will start at the door. To keep the cats safe, guests are asked to wash their hands and change their shoes before entering the cat’s play area. The cost to play is PHP350 or roughly $7.00, and includes one hour of time in the cat area, one food and drink of your choice and snacks for the cats. The menu is vast and includes dessert items, pizza, pasta, sandwiches and muffins.
The cat cafe is open from 11:00AM to 11:00PM and guests are invited to either enjoy their food from the cafe where they can watch the cats through the glass, or in the cat play area. If you choose to eat in the cat area your drinks will be served in spill proof cups, and your food will be placed inside a case so the kitties can’t steal any. It is very important while you are in the cat area that you only share the provided cat treats with the cats as human food can upset their stomachs.
Each of the cats is on a special raw food diet. It consists of raw, bone in chicken that has been mixed with taurine, iodine, vitamins E and B complex and fish oil which are all diluted in water.
While some people balk at the idea of feeding cats raw meat and bones cats are obligate carnivores and in the wild they would be eating bones quite regularly. While raw bones can be great for keeping cat’s teeth bright and shiny cooked bones should never be given to pets as they can splinter and cause esophageal and gastrointestinal tears. If you are considering switching your cat to a raw food diet be sure to do your research first. Supplementation and variety are very important aspects of the raw food diet, as are safe preparation techniques. Be sure to always wash the meat thoroughly before feeding it to your cat, pick up anything your cat doesn’t eat after 15 minutes, and always wash bowls immediately after your cat finishes. This will prevent any bacteria from growing and keep your cat safe and healthy!
The Bengal Brew House Rules
Before you arrive at Bengal Brew it’s a good idea to get a feel for their rules. They do not allow children under 8 years old to enter the cat play area. However, if you insist on bringing in a small child you must be completely attentive to your child and make sure they neither injure the cats or themselves during their time in the jungle. Be sure to watch any children closely around cats to prevent distress to the cats, and scratches or bites to the children. While cats are naturally quite sweet they will defend themselves if they feel they need to.
All the Bengal cats at Bengal Brew are healthy and have regular wellness checks at the vet, but be aware of your health before entering the play area. If you are immuno compromised being around cats, and the raw chicken that is fed as treats could potentially be a risk for you. Keep that in mind when visiting and know that you are taking a risk.
Be sure to avoid sudden movements and loud noises while in the play area as this can cause the cats unnecessary stress. It can also stress the cats if you disturb them while they are sleeping or try to force interactions with them when they try to avoid you. It is best to let the cats come to you or to get close to them and offer them treats to get them to come interact with you.
Cats will be cats, so if the cats beg while you are eating be sure to only give them the treats you are provided and when you leave, dispose of the trash properly. Cats can ingest or hurt themselves on trash that has been left out, so safe disposal is paramount to their safety.
While it may be tempting to bring your own cat with you, Bengal Brews prohibits any other animals entering the premise. This is to ensure the health and safety of the Bengals and to prevent any mishaps. It is also important that you are careful not to allow any Bengals to escape when you leave as they are explorers at heart and would be hard to catch.
Be sure to follow all the rules laid out by Bengal Brew or you could be asked to leave. The owner and the staff want you to enjoy your visit, but their main concern is the health and wellbeing of their feline friends.
Bengal Brew is known as a local celebrity hang out in the Philippines as Don is a television and film writer and director. It’s possible that while you are going to see the beautiful Bengal cats you may get to see a celebrity or two as well. Be sure to bring your camera so you can capture all the wonders of this amazing cafe for yourself. It’s not everyday you get to visit a jungle cafe full of cats, and your friends may not believe you without photographic proof.
If you plan on visiting Bengal Brew you will be in for an amazing time. The food, the drinks, the cats, and the atmosphere will have your senses reeling before your visit is over. If you don’t already have a Bengal cat, be prepared to want one before you leave. Keep in mind that they are a very intelligent and active cat breed that will require lots of attention from their owner. If you love the look of a Bengal but don’t quite think you can handle their personality, check out your local animals shelter . While a tabby cat’s coat could never compare to the gorgeous rosettes of a Bengal they are beautiful too and a little more relaxed. Enjoy your visit to Bengal Brew!
Bengal Brew and Wolf & Bear are open daily, located at GF Manhattan Parkview, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City.
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