There is no shortage of places to hold and pat animals in Tokyo. And while the critters on call range from hedgehogs to penguins to owls, it’s the everyday housecat that is best known. In the county of North Yorkshire, Julie Hatch, owner of the Circles of Life Community Interest Company in Redcar, has brought the concept to the seaside resort town. She sees her C.A.T. (Coffee and Therapy) Café. She sees it as a way to help those facing mental issues, loneliness or learning challenges. “If anyone needs a boost, there’s nothing better than chilling out with a cup of coffee, listening to music and stroking a cat,” Hatch told the Teesside Live news site.