Associations Between Soundscape Perception and Customer Self-Reported Mood in London Cat Cafés: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study

Cat cafés, where customers and resident cats share indoor spaces, create a distinctive yet understudied soundscape. This exploratory cross-sectional study examined cat cafés through three questions: acoustic conditions and customer perceptions using the ISO 12913 pleasant–eventful framework; associations between perceived sound sources, acoustic comfort, and mood; and links between perceptual ratings and typical activities. During weekday peak hours in July–August 2024, sound pressure levels were measured with NoiseCapture in three of four London cat cafés, while 50 customers completed questionnaires. SPLs generally ranged from 65–75 dB(A), exceeding the 45–50 dB(A) recommended for cafeterias; nevertheless, 88% of respondents described the soundscape as pleasant or very pleasant, mainly within the pleasant–uneventful region. Acoustic comfort was moderately positively associated with self-reported mood (rs = 0.35, Holm-adjusted p = 0.01). Of six perceived source types, cat-generated sounds alone were positively associated with mood (rs = 0.41, Holm-adjusted p = 0.02). Activity-related associations were non-significant after multiple-comparison correction, suggesting that larger samples may be needed. Attribute inter-correlations broadly reflected the established circumplex structure, preliminarily supporting the ISO framework in this setting. Overall, acoustic experience appears shaped not only by sound level but also by context, expectations, human–animal interaction, and possible biophilic associations.