A new trend is to offer caffeine addicts furry solace at cafés

There are many views on what makes a perfect cuppa — whether it is tea or coffee — and researchers have even averred recently that beverage preferences also indicate the nature of the quaffers. However, the decision of a café in Paris to take a cue from the Japanese and offer purrfect brews — courtesy the addition of free feline add-ons — shows that the concept has finally moved westwards after various avatars in south-east Asia.

The Japanese, of course, also invented electronic pets to get round the difficulty of keeping dogs or cats in cramped homes whose owners had long working hours. But for true animal lovers, there is nothing like a furry, purring, lap-warmer to accompany a relaxing cup of coffee. So, in-house, on-the-house cats are a logical solution.

Besides providing abandoned animals a home and people who can pet them, the initiative could serve a larger social purpose if the cats can also wean café habitués away from their usual objects of affection, mobile phones, for even a little while. If the idea takes off in France and elsewhere — London is slated to get one soon — the owners could consider branches with other pets as cats are not everyone’s cup of tea or coffee. Dogs, rabbits and parakeets could be possible extensions. Any Dilli Billi, Mumbai Manjar and Chennai Punai cafés may have to wait awhile, though.