Raccoons to snakes: Chinese pet lovers embrace animal cafes in Shanghai that star exotic beasts
- Cute, cuddly and unpredictable creatures are a big drawcard, despite timely worries about disease jumping from animals to humans
- Animal rights advocate says customers may be unaware the main attractions in these popular cafes have a miserable life
A baby raccoon to stroke while you sip your skinny latte? Or a snake to coil around you after your cappuccino?
Forget dog or cat cafes, Shanghai’s animal cafe scene has expanded to include a wider and more exotic kingdom.
The fad in dining alongside all manner of species – from raccoons to pigs and reptiles – comes despite pandemic-fuelled concerns about the dangers of deadly viruses jumping from wild animals to humans.
There are dozens of animal cafes in China’s biggest city, with visitors helping to drive the craze by posing for photos with the creatures and sharing them on social media.
Tucked away in central Shanghai, Raccoon Cafe is home to eight of the mammals. The biggest of them, weighing about 10 kilos, (22 pounds), jumps up and down by a window, seemingly agitated by customers.