SINGAPORE — Pet cafes are gaining popularity in Singapore, but staying open, or even getting started, appears to be a challenge, with owners noting that many cafes have shut down within two years.

They cite high costs and strict regulations, such as having separate kitchens for humans and animals, as reasons the businesses do not thrive, despite the large number of registered pets in Singapore.

From only one licensed food shop where pets are allowed in 2004, there are now 15, said the National Environment Agency (NEA). TODAY understands that the first licence was issued in 2004.

The recently-opened Cat Cafe Neko no Niwa, the first of its kind here, attracted much buzz and is often fully booked on weekends. A second cat cafe, TheCatCafe, has garnered more than 9,000 “likes” on its Facebook page, even though it has not yet opened.

However, Dr Siew Tuck Wah, president of animal welfare group Save Our Street Dogs, pointed out that there are 57,000 registered dogs in Singapore, where most people live in high-rise buildings with little room for dogs to manoeuvre.

“The 15 pet eateries in Singapore are unlikely to be a sufficient number to meet the demand,” he said.

Ms Loh Weilin, co-owner of The Group Therapy, a cafe that does not allow pets, said the NEA’s guidelines for pet eateries are too restrictive. Having two separate preparation and storage areas means less space available for seating, she said.

Furthermore, two groups of kitchen staff are required to ensure that there is no contamination, and having less kitchen space to prepare food for people hinders what cafes can serve on their menu, Ms Loh said.

Ms Madeline Chia, a volunteer with Noah’s Ark CARES, noted that pet owners tend to stay in cafes longer so their pets can interact with others, which means a slower turnover of customers.

At the same time, such cafes cater to a niche market, said Ms Ivy Lim, co-owner of Doggiestyle Cafe. “It’s very niche because people who own dogs may not necessarily want to take them out to cafes. We only appeal to those who like to take their dogs out and dine with them,” she said.

Mr Dave Lim, owner of pet-friendly Sun Ray Cafe, added that many people still view sharing space with pets as a novelty or even a taboo.

This can be a problem as owners of pet cafes grapple with high costs such as rentals.

“If your business doesn’t improve and you don’t have other side businesses to sustain you, you will die,” said Ms Jordan Ng, owner of pet eatery III Cafe. Adding to the mix are high maintenance costs for getting rid of fur and ensuring that the premises are free of foul odour, she said.

Mr Lim noted the need to serve quality food at such cafes. “Somehow, pet eateries and quality food do not correlate in our local context. To survive as a pet eatery requires much more than having a space for pets to eat with their owners. Quality food, drinks and service will eventually carry the eatery to the next level,” he said.

But he was optimistic that the public would become more open to sharing spaces with pets. “We observe that the attitude is changing as there are a lot of non-pet owners who come to Sun Ray Cafe to dine and play with pets of other customers,” he said.