A Precious Hour at a Cat Cafe

 

As some of you may know, I have an affinity for cats. Every once in a great while I get to gaze upon Remy when I traverse through Harvard. Then there was also Inky, a beloved tuxedo cat who was dubbed the "Mayor of Garfield Street" until his passing earlier this year. If you walk in my neighborhood, there are reminders of Inky's presence. 

Alas, most of my encounters with cats these days are by chance. It has been some time since I spent any extended period of time with a cat. Today, I rectified that with a visit to A Sanctuary Cafe on Charles Street in Boston where I booked a one-hour visit.

The main floor is divided between the cafe and cat sanctuary area while the latter also occupies the basement. Before one enters the sanctuary, it is necessary to use hand sanitizer and place booties over your shoes to maintain cleanliness and safety. I spent most of the hour in the basement where there is also a room where only cats are allowed so they can plot global domination with able assistance from the staff. 

Most of the cats I encountered today were sleeping and customers are not permitted to disrupt their slumber. As such, I didn't have very much interaction with the cats who were assembled and spent more time speaking with a staff person named Sarah sharing stories about our lives with cats. However, just being in the presence of large number of cats proved to be a source of calm. This alone was worth the price of admission. It was a most precious hour. 

After I left the premises, I walked back to Cambridge and felt considerably more relaxed and at ease than I was before I arrived. I think another visit will be in order. I'm not sure when this will come to pass. But when it does come to pass, I know I will have another precious hour with G-d's greatest creation.