Cat lovers are well acquainted with the concept of a neko bar or cat café from Japan. But have you ever stepped into a purring bookstore? The first bookstore of this kind, where books and cats reign supreme, has opened its doors in Aix-en-Provence. We invite you to discover this amazing place called... Mon Chat Pitre!
The bookstore Mon Chat Pitre lives up to its name. In this Aix-en-Provence shop, the reference to felines is not just a playful pun… The name perfectly matches the concept since this place is the first cat bookstore in France and even in Europe.
Based on the model of cat cafes or neko bars from Japan, this store offers you the chance to browse among books as well as cats. A true dream for all readers who love the company of felines.
No fewer than seven adorable furballs have settled at 13 rue de Montigny, to the delight of those who believe in the benefits of reading and the purring of cats…
It was in June 2021 that journalist Solène Chavanne, a columnist on LCI and an animal specialist, created Mon Chat Pitre in Aix-en-Provence. She came up with the idea one day while reading a book with her cat.
Since then, this unique bookstore, with its warm and peaceful atmosphere, has attracted many visitors. It must be said that the seven feline residents of the shop arouse curiosity and bring a particular serenity to the place.
While the premises are located right in the city center of Aix-en-Provence, this address is a true haven of peace where customers can relax to the sound of purring while choosing books. Videos shot in the store are also a great success on social media...
The public's enthusiasm is such that the founders wish to develop the concept of a cat bookstore worldwide. There is no doubt that many people would love to have a purring bookstore in their city because, in its two years of existence, this Aix-en-Provence shop has welcomed customers from all over France!
The felines that have taken up residence in the bookstore Mon Chat Pitre in Aix-en-Provence are not up for adoption, but are ambassadors for shelter cats.
The founder, Solène Chavanne, traveled through France's shelters to find the perfect candidates for her project: cats capable of cohabiting with their peers, sociable, and fond of cuddles. She explains: "I absolutely wanted them to be shelter cats, so people would realize that you can find gems if you take the time to look for the cat that suits you."
Today, Plume, Colette, Garfield, Tam, Féfé, Sherlock, and Marcel have found a home among books and customers. In addition to being pampered, all these animals are sponsored by a renowned personality, such as TV host Faustine Bollaert, cartoonist Philippe Geluck, or crime author Maxime Chattam.
Their story can encourage people to adopt an abandoned cat themselves. That is why Solène Chavanne regularly shares photos of cats available for adoption on her bookstore's social media.
Even as the founder of the first cat bookstore in France seeks to develop this concept elsewhere in France and Europe, she remains vigilant about animal welfare: "It has to be as good as what we've done here. With the same care, the same importance given to adoption and shelter cats."
Author Audrey on 04 September 2023
Art and Culture : Museums
Author Audrey on 04 July 2024
Art and Culture : Museums