Black cat cafe works its magic

Wuhan shop aims to dispel myths about animals seen as unlucky

There are two ways to forget about life's troubles: music and cats.

At the Hey Cat Cafe in Wuhan, Hubei province, you can have both. About 30 furry creatures, each wearing a red burp cloth with its name on it, welcome and "serve" the guests, or are served themselves with snacks and cuddles.

The "employees" are all stray black cats, most of whom were rescued by caring people after being abandoned by their owners. Having once struggled to survive in the crowded and chaotic city, the cats finally overcame their pain and seemingly regained their trust in humans. While curing themselves, the cats have also lifted the spirits of many local residents and other people from farther afield.

The cafe, or the "Black Cat Re-employment Service Center," as the manager calls it, is run by the Wuhan Small Animal Protection Association. Opened in September 2021, it was one of the first nonprofit cat cafes in China. Manager Du Fan said all the profits are used to help homeless animals.