Did you know March 2 is International Rescue Cat Day? Perhaps you’ve been mulling over bringing home a cuddly cat companion for a while but would like to test the waters before actually doing so. That’s highly understandable; this isn’t a decision to be made lightly but rather a long-term commitment that will ultimately affect you, your family, and your prospective fur baby.
Yet, you may be wondering just how you can “test the waters,” so to speak. Is there even a way? Believe it or not, it can be as simple as planning your next coffee date. Only in this case, all your prospective café companions come as freely roaming, adoptable rescue kitties you play with and learn more about firsthand. That is the mission behind the cat café.
The world’s very first cat café, “Cat Flower Garden,” debuted in Taipei, Taiwan, in 1998. By 2004, the concept spread to Osaka, Japan, in the form of “Neko no Jikan” or “Cat’s Time.” The cat café craze continued to flourish throughout the nation since so many residents lived in small apartments or city condos prohibiting ownership of pets. As a result, Japanese cat cafés provided an alternate means to enjoy the company and companionship of cats for a few hours outside of the home.
Cat cafés eventually made their way to other nations throughout the world. The first one to open in North America was Le Café des Chats/Cat Café in Montreal, Canada, in 2014.
Unlike their Asian predecessors, Cat cafés in Western nations largely focus on finding forever homes for the cats they showcase. Most United States-based operations partner with local rescues to provide an atmosphere in which all of the cats in attendance are adoptable and looking for love. The settings are low-key and provide easy interaction, fellowship, and a safe, amiable environment for prospective pet parents and their potential new adoptees.
From spending time with kitty acquaintances to potentially adopting one yourself, the core concept behind our modern-day cat café remains the same. You have a café, coffee shop, or even a wine bar that serves food and drink to patrons. All the while, adoptable cats roam about freely through tunnels, cat trees, and other nooks and crannies set up throughout the room or in an adjoining communal setting. In most instances, you pay for sessions or slated blocks of time to attend cat cafés, interacting with feline hopefuls to see who may be the best fit!
While still somewhat obscure across the board, the presence of cat cafés throughout the United States has grown significantly in just a little over the last decade alone. We even have several notable ones to boast about throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Depending on where you live, you certainly have your pick of the litter among them. Here’s a go-to guide to help you navigate.
District of Columbia
Crumbs & Whisker’s
3109 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007
www.crumbsandwhiskers.com
Meow Maison
1336 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007
www.meowmaison.com
Maryland
Feline Felons
24 Industrial Park Drive, Suite 1
Waldorf, MD 20602
www.felinefelonscatcafe.com
Kitten Kafé
302 A, 302 Kay Ave, Salisbury, MD 21801
Facebook Link
Meow Dyer Cat Cafe, LLC
41665 Fenwick St #13, Leonardtown, MD 20650
www.meowdyercatcafe.com
Pennsylvania
The Black Cat Café
42 Berkley Rd, Devon, PA 19333
www.theblackcatcafedevon.org
Cat Nook Café
18 W Winona Ave, Norwood, PA 19074
www.catnookcafe.com
Cattfeinated Cat Café
159 E Otterman St, Greensburg, PA 15601
www.greensburgcatcafe.com
Craig’s Cat Café
11 Riverside Dr, Spring City, PA 19475
www.craigscatcafe.net
Le Cat Café
2713 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19130
www.lecatcafe.org
MeWow Cat Café
3617 Old Easton Rd, Doylestown, PA 18902
www.mewow.cafe
Treetops Kitty Cafe – Cat Adoption and Visitation Center
305 W State St, Kennett Square, PA 19348
www.treetopskittycafe.com
Whisker’s Cat Café Philly
1440 Snyder Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19145
www.whiskerscatcafe.org
Virginia
Aristocat Cafe + Tea House
111 N Liberty St, Harrisonburg, VA 22802
www.aristocat.cafe
Catnip Cat Café
1611 Colley Ave, Norfolk, VA 23517
www.catnipcatcafe.com
Catty Corner Café
116 E Market St, Leesburg, VA 20176
www.cattycornercafe.com
Cups and Claws Cat Lounge
10605 Jefferson Ave, Newport News, VA 23601
www.cupsandclaws.com
Kitty City Cat Café
601 Salem Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24016
www.kittycitycatcafe.com
Kitty Kingdom Cat Café
565 Cedar Rd, Chesapeake, VA 23322
www.kittykingdomcatcafe.com
Meows Corner
21435 Epicerie Plaza Suite 115, Sterling, VA 20165
www.meowscorner.com
Mount Purrnon Cat Café & Wine Bar
109 S Alfred St, Alexandria, VA 22314
www.mtpurrnoncatcafe.com
Patriot Pawsabilities Cat Lounge
10687 Braddock Rd, Fairfax, VA 22032
www.patriotpawsabilities.com
The Toebean Cat Café
20 Walnut Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24016
www.thetoebeancatcafe.net
West Virginia
Cups and Cats Café
187 Summers St, Charleston, WV 25312
www.cupsandcatswv.com
Give Purrs A Chance
51 Independence St, Berkeley Springs, WV
www.givepurrsachance.org
Each cat café has its own specific rules, regulations, and procedures regarding the safety, health, and wellness of visiting humans and the cats they provide for. Some may request patrons sign waivers or adhere to limits on time blocks. Others also place restrictions on the ages of attendees or request certain individuals be accompanied by a legal guardian. Therefore, it’s always best to check first with any location you plan on attending.
New cat cafés are forever popping up. So are all the wonderful opportunities to bring a new cuddly kitty into a safe and welcoming “fur”ever home.