“They are like family” ❤️️
The Cat Cafe Lviv has been operational for almost six years in Lviv, Ukraine, and has grown to mean a lot to everyone involved.
Serhii Oliinyk, owner of Cat Cafe Lviv, told The Dodo, “I have a small team of very close people who have been working with me for several years and have become my closest friends.” “Our fluffy inhabitants appreciate people’s attention, so these folks have become accustomed to taking care of them and playing with them when there are few visitors.”
The cafe is home to 20 cats who enjoy greeting tourists and hanging out with them while they eat or simply rest. It’s become a safe haven for Lviv residents, a place where they can come to forget about their worries and simply play with cats who are always delighted to see them.
Many Ukrainians are fleeing the nation as a result of the Russian invasion, but Oliinyk is not one of them. He is staying at the cafe with his family.
“Since the age of four months, our cats have been living in [the] cat cafe,” Oliinyk added. “They’re like family to me.” We realized we’d never leave our nation, that it was the only place we could envision ourselves in the future.”
The Cat Cafe Lviv has opted to remain open despite the invasion and the uncertainty. They’ll keep providing a safe haven for people to come by and say hello to the kitties, something the people of Ukraine may require now more than ever.
“We have fewer regular customers these days,” Oliinyk remarked, “but there are those who have traveled from distant cities and need hot food and happy sentiments.” “Our cafe has three huge rooms, two of which are located in the basement, so in the event of an air raid alert, our guests and kitties will be safe.”
Oliinyk’s family includes the cats at the Cat Cafe Lviv, therefore they’ll stick together no matter what.