BY IVY KUEH HON AI
What could be better than a cosy garden cafe? Of course, the ones with delicious food and lots of cats!
After enjoying a meal and playing with the cats, Hornbill Box took the opportunity to speak with Nelson Tham How Ye, 32, owner of Monster. A Garden Cafe, which has been operating for eight months.
“Its initial concept was garden-themed. How did it get its name? Well, there is a Monstera plant in the cafe, and one of my cats is named Monster. So I combined both elements and came up with Monster. A Garden Cafe,” he said.
Back at the previous location, Nelson came down to see how the renovations were going and brought his four cats with him. He said that a lot of people were interested in knowing when the cafe would open because they were drawn to the cats. So, when the cafe first opened its doors, the cats were also brought in to work with him.
There are currently 20 cats in the cafe at the new location, which Nelson and one of his business partners brought in. Half of the cats were adopted.
“During the pandemic, I knew many cat breeders who had to return to their home country. They texted me asking if I could help take care of their cats. We’ve taken in five cats over the past year.”
When asked who their target audience is, he said, “We don’t really target any specific groups, but mainly people who love cats or want to better understand cats.”
According to Nelson, some people believe the cats were brought in to increase profits by attracting customers, but they are mistaken. He wholeheartedly loves and cares for the cats.
“I don’t buy cats just to keep them in the cafe. There is no entrance fee, and customers are free to stay as long as they like (before the cafe closes, of course). We don’t charge an entrance fee because I don’t want the customers to feel like the cats have an obligation to amuse them; rather, I want the cats to be seen as companions who are free to do as they please. Customers will only spend money on food and drinks.”
When Nelson first opened the cafe, the menu had only two pages. Seeing some customers come in and struggle to choose what they wanted due to a lack of options, he gradually added more choices to their menu by discussing it with his three business partners.
Speaking of food, he added that because the cafe’s cats are allowed to roam freely, there are some concerns that cat hair may get into the meals or beverages of customers.
“We make every effort to reduce the likelihood of this happening. For example, we keep the air con on at all times, which reduces hair fall by half. The cats’ food will also be less salty, and they will not be permitted in the kitchen. We haven’t heard any complaints about cat hair in the food yet, so I’m grateful to my staff for taking such good care of the cats.”
Food and cats are two very lovable things that can lift anyone’s spirits. However, Monster. A Garden Cafe, in addition to bringing customers joy and companionship and filling their tummies, also faces struggles and challenges.
“There are lots of difficulties, which is why we have strict house rules. Still, some children are overly enthusiastic and eager, and they don’t know how to control themselves when they see cats. People also have a general lack of understanding for cats as opposed to dogs. Cats are usually hunted by other animals in the wild, which makes them more timid and inclined to defend themselves. Because of this, we often keep an eye on customers and the cats at the cafe for fear that they might get hurt,” Nelson said.
Another challenge, he added, was people leaving negative reviews about the cafe because of the staff’s “rude attitudes” when customers tried to pick up the cats. There is a clearly stated policy in the cafe that says customers cannot pick up the cats in order to reduce the risk of people getting hurt.
Aside from making people feel comfortable, he is also concerned with the wellbeing of his cats. He would not risk the cats being harmed in any way for the sake of others’ entertainment, which he hopes more people will understand.
“I used to be more introverted and had difficulty communicating with people. I also get nervous in large crowds, so going to a cafe alone makes me feel very out of place. It’s not the same here. With a cat, you have a companion or a topic to discuss with others.”
Nelson enjoys seeing customers who begin as strangers become friends, which is common in the cafe. This is because the cats become a popular topic of conversation, and people take the initiative to make new friends.
“It’s great to see because making friends in the city can be difficult,” he said.
When asked about the cat that has been with him the longest, Nelson picked up and brought his first cat, Bambi, along for the interview. He spoke fondly of Bambi, saying that while she has a bad temper, she is also the most spoiled cat.
If you’re ever in the Petaling Street area and love cats (or just want a place to hang out with your friends), check out Monster. A Garden Cafe! Follow them on Instagram at @monster.a.garden.cafe.kl to know more.
- This article was written by a student from the Strategic Communication Programme at the Faculty of Language and Communication, UNIMAS.
