Now, I’m not the biggest cat lover in the world, so when I came across a video review of CATEA on TikTok, I instantly thought, “It’s just another cat cafe. What’s the big deal?”
However, when I dug a little deeper, I realised that this wasn’t just any cafe—it was a Chinese teahouse with cats, and unlike other cat cafes, CATEA solely houses Ragdolls.
How did this concept even come about? I spoke to the “cat teahouse” owner to find out.
Out of the many cat breeds, why Ragdolls?
In an interview with Vulcan Post, Chen Jiade, the founder and owner of CATEA, introduced himself as a “passionate Ragdoll enthusiast” who had adopted many Ragdoll cats over the past few years before opening the teahouse.
“Ragdolls are known for their laid-back and friendly personalities, which is why I love them.” Jiade, also known as JD, added that, unlike independent or high-energy cat breeds, these cats enjoyed being cuddled, making them the ideal cats for an animal cafe setting.
Aside from his love for cats and other animals, the 35-year-old owner also holds a passion for hospitality. Before opening CATEA, JD worked in various fields, including the F&B industry, which allowed him to understand how to manage customer service and business operations.
He wanted to combine both of his passions, and this birthed the idea of a cat-friendly cafe. However, given that there are many known cat cafes in Singapore, JD, a permanent resident, needed to differentiate the business from the rest of the pack, leading him to lean into his Teochew heritage.
As a Chaozhou person who has been drinking tea almost every day since childhood, rather than just typical cat-friendly cáfe, I wanted to do something different—something that combined Chinese teas with the comfort of spending time with cats.
Chen Jiade (JD), 35, founder and owner of CATEA
And with that, the cat teahouse was born.
Tea + Cats = Cosy
JD shared that it took almost half a year before he could open CATEA in mid-2024, where finding the right location was the biggest obstacle. “Ideally, I wanted a space that was centrally located but still had a cosy, tranquil atmosphere.”
The renovations, which amounted to five figures and accounted for most of the business’s startup capital, also took longer than expected, as they had to allocate designated areas for the cats to relax and facilities to prepare their F&B offerings and customers to lounge in.
While I have been to a few pet cafes during family trips overseas, I have not been to a cat cafe (as I was not the biggest cat lover).
Before the interview, I made an incognito visit on a late Saturday afternoon with my close friend, Natalie, a cat owner and lover, to accompany me to my first cat cafe experience. At first glance, the cafe was bright, minimalistic, quiet, and had a “peaceful” vibe. We quickly sanitised our hands and settled down at a cosy corner near the shop’s entrance.
However, my eyes widened upon browsing their drink menu, as most were priced between S$16 and S$25. In hindsight, the prices are justified, given that CATEA does not charge entrance or hourly fees, which is commonly done at other pet cafes.
While Natalie got their fragrant jasmine tea, I went rogue and ordered their Yashi Duckshit Dan Cong tea, one of CATEA’s bestselling drinks. Contrary to its name, my drink was not “smelly” by any means—instead, it had a subtle floral scent and tasted light and clean.
According to JD, the teahouse sources its teas from China and local suppliers and focuses on offering “beginner-friendly” teas to suit the taste of younger Singaporeans. As a Chinese tea lover, this was a welcome change from the Western teas I was accustomed to at other pet cafes.
Although many of the cats were sleepy during our visit, they were docile and welcomed the many pets from us and other customers at the teahouse. Natalie added that the Ragdolls are friendlier than the cats she interacted with at other cat cafes in Singapore, and they felt calm throughout our time there.
While I would not return to CATEA too often (see slightly pricey drinks), I could see myself bringing other cat lovers to the teahouse for a new experience.
Continuing to stand out
Beyond the “overwhelmingly positive” response from the public, CATEA has seen consistent growth in customer visits and social media engagement. JD also claimed that the teahouse had received over 200 reservations last month alone.
Whether this popularity can be sustained long term, only time will tell, but JD is hopeful about his brand’s growth.
Looking forward, he wants to grow the business’s online presence and hopes to explore selling packs of tea leaves so his customers can enjoy them in the comfort of their homes.
JD also expressed his ambition to open new locations, locally and internationally, in the future. “We believe we will be able to break even within the first year,” he added.
Featured Image Credit: CATEA