The cat-themed café in the city of Ningbo. (Zjol Photo)

　　Every day at noon, a cat-themed café in the city of Ningbo opens for business.

　　As the name suggests, cat cafés are coffee shops where cat lovers go to sip lattes and hang out with adorable cats and kittens.

　　Different from other cafés, the café in Ningbo features 10 cats that act as "special clerks." Some rest on a tatami while others lie on tables. They don’t mind getting close to customers or affectionately frolicking with anyone who offers to play.

　　In addition, feline elements can be seen all around the shop, from a large selection of cat trees to sofa cushions printed with cats.

　　Many people feel that the café provides a tranquil and relaxing refuge from fast-paced urban life. It’s a perfect place to sip coffee and enjoy some leisure time.

　　Most fans of cat cafés are relatively young, and often office workers. They come after work or on weekends. Playing with the cats relieves their stress and loneliness, according to the owner of the Ningbo café, Qiu Zhaohui.