10 of the best cat cafes in the US for coffee and cuddles
Cat cafes provide coffee, cuddles, and help find homes for adoptable kitties — Photo courtesy of Aleksandra Dymochkina / iStock Via Getty Images
When I tell people about my love of cat cafes, they often laugh them off as gimmicky. But for many cat lovers, these cafes provide cat energy when we are away from home or just want some feline companionship without the commitment of pet ownership. The benefits to the cats are even greater: Most cat cafes partner with rescue organizations, helping kitties find forever homes while temporarily living in a lively and loving environment.
What is a cat cafe?
Cat cafes bring people and kitties together — Photo courtesy of nature picture / iStock Via Getty Images
The cat cafe phenomenon started in 1998 when Cat Flower Garden opened in Taiwan. However, the idea took off in Japan, where many apartments are too small for people to house feline friends. The U.S. is now the world leader in cat cafes, with about 240 operating nationwide.
Visiting a cat cafe is similar to hanging out at any cafe: You can order something to drink and eat, work or relax, and often enjoy free Wi-Fi. The only difference is having a bunch of cute, cuddly, and, yes, sometimes aloof cats to interact with. Depending on local health codes, you might be able to dine with the cats, but most cafes have separate areas for eating and for lounging with cats.
You can play with the cats, scratch their ears, and whisker, er, whisper sweet nothings. However, it’s generally frowned upon to wake a sleeping kitty or to force play. If you bond with a particular feline, you can adopt them — that’s the ultimate goal.
Our favorite cat cafes in the US
Since most cat cafes limit the human-to-cat ratio, many take reservations, and it’s best to book a spot online, especially with a group. Here are some of our favorites around the country.
Buckminster’s Cat Cafe, Buffalo, New York
The kitties roam free at Buckminster’s Cat Cafe — Photo courtesy of Buckminster’s Cat Cafe
Owner Molly Hutton opened Buckminster’s Cat Cafe in a beautiful, old, two-story brick building. Guests enjoy quiche, panini sandwiches, and vegan BLTs with their kitty cuddles; the coffee is local. During my visit, Hutton said Buckminster’s had found homes for hundreds of cats to date.
Sip & Purr, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Sip & Purr’s resident cats are ready for their big moment — Photo courtesy of Sip & Purr / Ryan Peschman
Sip & Purr opened in 2018 and has found homes for more than 1,400 cats from 11 countries. “Sip & Purr routinely accepts at-risk international cats into our adoption program,” says founder Katy McHugh. “We’ve coordinated rescue missions to Lebanon, Egypt, Qatar, and more.” The cafe hosts fun events, like cat yoga and drag bingo with the furry felines.
Pounce Cat Cafe + Wine Bar, Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina
Pounce Cat Cafe works with local shelters to find homes for adoptable kitties — Photo courtesy of Teresa Bergen
Pounce Cat Cafe + Wine Bar is the first cat cafe to open in the South; it has helped more than 1,000 kitties find new homes since launching in 2016. At both locations, the cafe works with local animal shelters — the Humane Society for Greater Savannah and Charleston Animal Society.
The cats give off a genteel Southern vibe here as they splay on fuzzy pink pillows (at least at the Savannah location I visited). Both cafes offer snacks, coffee, and tea, but Charleston also serves beer and wine. Happy hour with cats is the happiest of hours.
NEKO Cat Cafe, Seattle and Bellingham, Washington
NEKO Cat Cafe offers beverages, snacks, and lots of cats to play with — Photo courtesy of NEKO Cat Cafe
NEKO Cat Cafe owners Caitlin Unsell and Cory James fell in love with cat cafes while living in Japan. They brought those fun feline vibes home to Washington state, opening the first NEKO in Seattle in 2017 and a Bellingham location in 2020.
The Japanese-inspired menu features sake, beer, milk tea, and mochi. You can play with the cats in a separate room, or enjoy your beverages and watch them through a window.
Health & Wellness: Here are 10 places where you can do yoga with goats
“Many of our customers get to know our kitties through social media before they arrive and are starstruck when they meet them in person,” says Unsell.
Expect cute events like Taylor Swift listening parties and an annual Pawliday Pawlooza in December.
The Cat Café, San Diego, California
The Cat Cafe was the first to combine cats and coffee in Southern California — Photo courtesy of The Cat Cafe
Find cats on your mat while attending a yoga class at Southern California’s first cat cafe. The Cat Café usually houses up to 12 adoptable cats at a time. Since opening in 2015, it has worked with The Rescue House to rehome more than 830 kitties.
“While our focus is on our cats, we tap into other local small businesses for our coffee and espresso as well as pastries and other light fare,” says owner Tony Wang.
The cafe is close to the convention center and Petco Park, which attracts a good crowd before games and meetings. Feline superfans can buy a monthly membership.
Frisky Cat Cafe, St. Augustine, Florida
Cats rule the roost at the Frisky Cat Cafe in St. Augustine — Photo courtesy of Teresa Bergen
When I visited Frisky Cat Cafe, dozens of cats lounged, groomed, or awaited the swing of my feathered wand as I conducted them like an orchestra. Frisky Cat Cafe is considered the largest in the country, housing over 50 adoptable cats and kittens at a time. Owner Carla Forrest also owns Small Lives Matter Kitten Rescue, which provides lifesaving care to neonatal kittens.
Here, you can get your caffeine fix while playing with the cats (you can take your food and beverages into the cat lounge), eat and sip before hanging out with the kitties, or participate in fun programming like cat yoga and “happy meower.”
House of Black Cat Magic, Asheville, North Carolina
House of Black Cat Magic celebrates black cats and magic — Photo courtesy of Teresa Bergen
Being a proud black cat owner, I was incredibly excited to visit the House of Black Cat Magic. The establishment — a witchcraft supply shop in the front and a cat lounge in the back — aims to dispel people’s prejudices about black cats. Oftentimes, black cats are the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized in shelters. The cat lounge features kids’ story time, cat yoga, and a monthly magic market with vendors and food trucks.
Gear & Tech: Best pet carriers for dogs, cats, and furry friends of all shapes and sizes
Meow Parlour, New York, New York
Guests of New York’s Meow Parlour enjoy snacks before cuddles — Photo courtesy of Meow Parlour / Hanna Grankvist
Meow Parlour, New York’s first cat cafe, finds homes for hundreds of cats annually. Visitors can expect top-notch treats, drinks, and baked goods from the cafe’s sister company, Macaron Parlour, next to the cat space.
Playful Paws Cat Cafe, Bend, Oregon
Cats love to lounge and play at Playful Paws in Bend, Oregon — Photo courtesy of April Ferguson
Opened in August 2023, Playful Paws Cat Cafe houses less than 15 cats at a time. “We are so proud to be the only cat cafe in Central Oregon, serving a widespread community east of the Cascades,” says owner April Ferguson. “We focus more on the ‘cat’ than the ‘cafe.’” Check out cafe events and classes like meditation, jewelry-making, and painting.
Purrfect Day Cafe, Covington and Louisville, Kentucky
It’s hard not to fall in love with the friendly kitties at Purrfect Day — Photo courtesy of Teresa Bergen
Just across the bridge from Cincinnati, Purrfect Day Cafe is the most prolific cat cafe I’ve visited. One Saturday evening, I watched guests play with 42 cats and saw four kitties adopted in an hour! Between Purrfect Day’s Covington and Louisville locations, they’ve found new homes for more than 10,000 kitties.
