Why doesn't Leeds have a cat cafe?

They're one of the most talked-about trends in millennial dining culture - and it could be that Leeds is now the largest city in the UK not to have a 'cat cafe'.

It's just been announced that a coffee shop home to several felines is to open in Sheffield this spring - meaning the concept of the cat cafe will have arrived in Yorkshire for the first time.

Cat cafes originated in Japan, where the pets are popular but where ownership is low due to the large numbers of people living in high-rise urban apartments. Food and drink are served in a regular cafe environment - but one where customers can also pet the cats who live on the premises. Hygiene rules are strict to keep them away from food preparation areas, and many are rescue animals who can be officially adopted.

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In the past few years, several British twists on the idea have sprung up, including London's most iconic feline establishment, Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium.

Manchester has Cat Cafe in its trendy Northern Quarter, and they've recently opened a sister branch in Liverpool.

Newcastle was among the early pioneers of the trend, with rivals Catpawcino and Mog on the Tyne opening close together. Nottingham has the Kitty Cafe, Cardiff is home to Feline Good, and Edinburgh has Maison de Moggy. Bristol boasts You&Meow, while Glasgow has The Scratching Post. Even Derby, a city considerably smaller than Leeds, can offer the extravagantly-named Lady T's Curious Cats and Coffee Parlour.

Some are so popular that diners have to book slots in advance.

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The only noticeable anomaly is Birmingham - the UK's second city has none, after two couples both failed to raise enough cash from public donations to set up their own rival cat cafes.

So why hasn't Leeds embraced the concept?

Back in 2013, a Headingley blogger launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund a cat cafe. The website is still live, but the blog has not been updated since 2014.

A similar project in York was also abandoned, when a crowdfunding page for a cafe in the famous Shambles was closed after failing to meet its target.