Galinette – Toone Bar, Brussels
Since her companion passed away at the grand old age of twenty the mischievous Galinette has had the run of Toone, the quaint little…
Bar cats
The bar cats of northern Europe
Bowie – Dampkring, Amsterdam
Bowie, AKA The Cat of Cannabis, is something of a social media star amongst the bar cats of Amsterdam. Although Dutch Coffee Shops are…
Saartje – Latei, Amsterdam
Saartje is relatively new to her role as cafe kitty. So far she is not demonstrating the acrobatic tendencies of her predecessor Elvis, who…
Antonio – Scheltema, Amsterdam
Antonio is beginning to show his age a little now. Once notorious for ambushing customers from atop the cabinet containing apple pie or lashing…
Jean-Claude – Au Soleil, Brussels
Jean-Claude has been a permanent feature at Au Soleil for almost a decade now. When the previous owners sold up she clearly felt a…
‘Cat’ – Cirio, Brussels
Although prepared to indulge in rough and tumble games with certain privileged barmen, Cirios’s Cat (he has no other name) scorns the attentions of…
Trouba and Hoekie – Oud Arsenaal, Antwerp
Rare examples of sociable bar cats, Trouba and Hoekie are more than happy to indulge the caresses of customers. Trouba’s laid back demeanor might…
Feline fine – the greatest bar cats from the lowlands
Amsterdam bar cats are an institution, adored by the clientele, with certain felines so celebrated they even have their own website. Some put it…
Arie, Café Krom – Amsterdam
Such is Arie’s fame that he has been known to reduce certain barmen to hissy fits of jealously. Why does no one ever enquire…
Sjef – Café de Doelen, Amsterdam
It’s possible that Sjef is related to his predecessor, a humungous ginger tom with a foul temper. In Sjef the ginger is combined with…