I stopped in during a road trip and wanted to kill some time. So happy I did. Got to hang with some sweet kitties and had a yummy blackberry tea. Staff was very friendly and it's great to support a business that helps the animal community. I lived in Dayton ages ago; wish this was here then. read more

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What a cute place and a great way to spend a rainy afternoon. The coffee is very tasty (had the cozy cookie latte) and the cats were perfectly sweet and very friendly. I would definitely come back! Loved the tshirt and sweatshirts for sale. Make sure to make reservations! read more

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A happy place! My only regret is that it took me so long to visit. We popped in once a couple months ago just to check it out but didn't access the cat room. Yesterday for my birthday week I reserved spots so we had the full experience! It's incredibly clean in here, cat lounge, outer lounge and restroom. I haven't been to second floor (no cats) but I'm sure it's equally nice. Staff are great, welcoming, caring about both cats and people. The outer lounge is very chill and cozy, cat decor everywhere of course and you can experience a view of some of the kitties. The baked goods are tasty, and you can get coffee, tea, cold brew, as well as wine. That's by the bottle only and you'll be served a glass at a time and they can seal what's left over to go. The cat lounge is a joy to behold. We interacted with about eight cats of differing personalities. You do not have to reserve but there is of course a limit on number of people inside at any one time. Honestly, while the cat lounge is plenty spacious for up to 18 cats, i think it would get a little uncomfortable with 12 humans inside. So I'm glad we chose a weekday on the earlier side. We had the place to ourselves for at least half an hour then another couple came. It's $10 per person for an hour, and the time goes fast! Parking might be a bit challenging. They have a small lot in the rear which includes one disabled spot, and you enter from the rear. I hope to get back to the Catfe soon and I recommend you stop by too. read more

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Awesome experience for cat lovers. You get to play with kittens and cats, of all ages, for an hour. It's nice to grab a coffee and sit in the room, watch the cats interact with humans and other cats. Their drinks are really good too. Everyone is so nice. read more

Gem City Catfé - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

We went here and it was way different than we expected. It's a cute cute little café with a nice little quaint sitting area. There's a counter where you order your beverage and/or treat. The cats are kept in a closed off room and there is a separate air filter for that room and where the food/drink is served. The room with the cats is locked and you have to I just got a cold green tea, which was pretty good. read more

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Great drinks and snacks. Pleasant staff. I love sitting and watching the cats as well as interacting with them.

This cafe is much more spacious than expected with parking available in the back as well--I missed it the first time because it's in the back alley. There is lots of seating on the first floor and additional spots on the second floor for working and hanging out. The chai latte left something to be desired but it was a great price so can't complain too much. It cost $10 to see the kitties for an hour but they weren't very interactive as advertised--although there were plenty of cute adoptable kitties. It was nice that the barista gave us snacks for the cats so they came out of hiding. They also offer a discounted price with the purchase of a membership if you desire to be with the kitties often. read more

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Gem City Catfé was truly a gem! A wonderful study or remote work spot with comfy seating and a relaxed environment! You do have to make reservations for seeing the cats in a separate room of the cafe. But it is all glass so you can see them, but they keep the separate from the cafe part, which is really nice for those who do not want cats around them the entire time they are there! I orderd a 12 oz Hot Matcha with Oat Milk + Vanilla! It was perfectly sweetened and nice and foamy on top. And they serve their drinks in the cutest real mugs rather than paper to-go coffee cups. Overall the environment and experience was splendid! Free wifi was a plus! Will definitely come study here again! read more

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My daughter and I spent time at Gem City Catfé and were very impressed with the environment. Lovely old building, yummy coffee, and super friendly staff that were happy to not only serve the refreshments but tell you all about the animals in their care. I love the mission of Gem City Catfe and will visit again! read more

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Don't bother. Can't speak to the coffee because we left without ordering anything. Staff are rude, policies are ridiculous. Definitely do not recommend. Spend your time and money someplace else. read more

What else can we say except AWESOME! The baristas were all super nice and the coffee was to die for. I got the honey cinnamon latte with oat milk and it was one of the best lattes I've ever had. We loved the comfy cat room and all the kitties available for head scratches and leg rubs. We were also impressed with the staff's care and love for the kitties. If we lived in Dayton this would be a regular stop for sure! read more

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This is truly a special place. I came here for an event that I won tickets too, but I am glad I did. This is set up in a cute neighborhood in a nicely remodeled old house. Parking lot is around back or you can find street parking. The inside of the catfe is bright and clean. They have some great beverage and goody options. I tried the yummy Maple Turmeric latte. There is a nice seating area with benches, couches, and tables with a view into the cat room. If you'd like to interact with the adoptable kitties you have to sign up for a time, and there is a $10 fee per hr (or you can obtain a membership). The staff was all very helpful and nice in explaining everything, including the possible adoption process. You can tell they have quite the passion for this cat rescue! The cat room is amazing. There is a board on the wall with all the adoptable cats, and they do have a couple resident cats (green collars I believe). There are so many spots for the cats to sleep, play, and interact. There are several places they can go to get away from humans as well and their litter boxes are in there. There are also plenty of places for the humans to sit and play with the kitties, or do some work and let them come to you. The room is so clean you honestly wouldn't know that animals live in it! Whether you are looking to adopt, or just need some kitty therapy, this is a great place to visit. Also checkout some of their gifts, all for a great cause! read more

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What another wonderful yelp event! I think it was better than other yelp events with the feline friends we got to hang out with! This place is pretty amazing. Who doesn't like cool cats, coffee and macaroons! I got to observe the kitties having dinner and it was quite a cute affair (photo posted). The employees were fantastic and very helpful and seemed to know the ins and outs of every cat there! I think it's wonderful that you can adopt these special kitties, although if I were one of these cats I would do everything in my power to become a permanent resident! Invoke was truest inspiring, I've never eaten vegan food and was amazed of the ingenuity and knowledge these two fabulous brothers have! I will be visiting them this weekend at the 2nd street market. Thank you so much Tyler it was great meeting you and I cannot wait for more events to come! read more

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So glad they are once again open to play with the kitties. We got lattes and soft pretzels came after reserving a time for the Catfé. Cats are fun, people are great, coffee is yummy, food is okay, but we have only tried the pretzels. If you are cat people like we are, please show this place some love! read more

Gem City Catfé - Lower Catfé area, with sweet kitties! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

Gem City is a good coffeehouse. I just happened to walk by it. Later found out they have cats for adoption too. Cool concept. You can adopt or just play. I just came in for coffee. It's about $3 for a drip coffee, and there's several to choose from. There's also vegan pastries. A good one is the lemon cupcake. There's a few tables in the main room. Cats are in another room in the back. They charge you $5 if you're a member, and $10 if you aren't for an hour. Excellent for both the cafe and cats. If you're going to spend that time and money you'll probably feel like you should adopt one of these critters. This is a good way to see how the cats get along with you. read more

Gem City Catfé - Coffee And A Vegan Cupcake - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

This coffee shop is so peaceful. It's a go to when I want to get work done! They have such a large amount of menu items to choose from. The staff has always been kind towards me and my friends and family. I'm severely allergic to cats, but the Catfé recognizes that people have allergies to cats and are very inclusive of those who are. They have several air purifiers in their house and the cats are enclosed in a glass room. You can choose to play with the cats or stay away from them. Everyone is comfortable, and everyone is loved at Gem City Catfé. read more

Gem City Catfé - An iced Carmel latte with oat milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

This is home decorating goals for me. I love cats. I love cats a lot. As such, it was probably dangerous for my partner to take me somewhere to spend time petting adoptable cats. And yet, he risked it. Upon entering the space was comfortable and seemed like somewhere I'd love to set up and get some work done - a great coffee shop, only where you can see kitties. So, ideal for me. We did get coffee, which was pretty good, no complaints there, and then went in to pet the kitties. And oh man, the set-up for those cats! Toys everywhere, places to nap, ways to get away from people if they're feeling cranky, cat paradise this was. I was enchanted by the rug with pillows where you could sit on the floor to play with the fluffums. I love this innovation in cat adoption. Shelters are so often scary places for cats, where you can't really get to know their personality to know if they're a good fit. Here, the cats are spoiled, happy, safe, and get all the petting they want. I wasn't even tempted to take anyone home, because this was a great place for them, though I was happy to see they're already accumulating adoptions. I will warn- if you buy food at the cafe and bring it in, the cats will try to help you eat it. I get enough of this at home, so it wasn't high on my priority list to deal with it, but it was funny to watch them pester other visitors. But if you want all the cats you can scritch, buying a muffin is the way to achieve it. If you want to eat in peace, maybe wait till you're not in the cat room. read more

Another city another absolutely amazing cat cafe. This one was so nice. I heard amazing things about it before I went and they did not disappoint. It was such a cute cafe and the cat room was one of the best ones I have seen for the kitties. They have so many places to snuggle for a nap or climb and observe. The kitties were so friendly. Thank you for my cat love fix when I am traveling. read more

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Really wanted to play with some cats so went here. The cats were cute but a few were a little irritable or flighty but had a good time. Was a little more expensive than anticipated but a good experience. This was a birthday gift/activity so the price was okay but not a go all the time price. They do have a membership though so that might be worth considering. read more

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I had a great time here! It's super cute and the features latte was what I got and very tasty. I didn't visit with the cats because I had a lot of work to do but being near animals def brought a cute and anti anxiety vibe to the place. It's a great place to get work done and for a tasty treat. I definitely want to try one of the boozy drinks next time as well. read more

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Great lattes! The honey cinnamon latte is a must if you like lattes. You have the option of whole milk or milk products including soy, coconut, or oat milk. The coffee cake muffin is big (perfect for sharing with a friend) and deliscious! If you don't want to pet the kitties or eat your food around them, then there is a separate sitting area where you can watch their antics through a glass wall. If you DO want to visit the kitties you have to pay a $10 fee which goes towards taking care of them. They will give you your drinks in travel mugs if you go into the cat room, to keep cat hair out of your drink I suppose. I was really pleased with this place. It was very clean, the staff was friendly, the kitties were cute and clean, and the coffee was excellent! I am only in Dayton for a few more days but I will definitely be returning! read more

Gem City Catfé - 3 of the many kitties as seen from the cafe seating area. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

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When I first read about Gem City Catfé I felt surely I was mistaken and was reading about some other city's newly opened treasure, but no--never have I been so happy to be wrong!! It's here! It's in Dayton! Somebody pinch me! Omg! *thud* So, a little background for you. I am your classic coffee shop fan girl-- pumpkin spice gets me excited while everyone else groans! I positively tremble with excitement like a chihuahua in need of a coat when I see the red cups every winter (some of you know what I am talking about!!) and gosh....I looooove cats! Never mind I'm allergic to them. Let's not think of that!! No, no, no! This is the point at which I tell you I live with two psychotic dog lovers (sorry guys) and I'm, yeah. Not. A. Dog. Lover!! But my boys REALLY wanted one, and hey, what's a girl to do? So now my home is dominated by dog hair, drool, testosterone, slobbery toys and missing food off the counters, and I'm like "Somebody please invent a Catopia I can escape to and get my fix (and restored sanity) when I need a break!" Enter: Gem City Catfé!!!!! I love you!!! My rescuer!! Not only is the interior ADORABLE (your welcome for not saying "adorbs" it took a lot of self-control) and delightfully contemporary, CLEAN and centering, it smells like delicious coffee and...WINE!? Did somebody say wine!!! And pastries! And cat paraphernalia to buy!!!! But wait there's more! For a small cover charge, I can go into the open kitty cat sanctuary, which is also clean modern and FRESH, find a table, sip my coffee and laugh as the kitties jump all over me trying to steal my food! The difference between a cat and a dog trying to steal food--cats are adorbs! Dang it. If my review hasn't convinced you to go, maybe telling you your money benefits poor pitiful large glassy eyed homeless kitties might help? If that doesn't do it...you're a dog person and nobody can help you. What else can I say? Go right meow. read more

Customer service is absolutely amazing and realistic. Their lattes are absolutely delicious with amazingly rich espresso. Additionally, the cats are so SO adorable and the Cat Cafe is well kept and clean. 10/10. read more

So yummy and very clean. I came here just for coffee, not to see any cats and it was very clean. The coffee cake was amazing and so was the honey cinnamon latte. You could taste the honey and cinnamon in the latte and it was perfectly sweet. Lots of seating. I'll definitely come back. read more

Gem City Catfé - Coffee cake muffin - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

We came at 8:15am on a Saturday and it was so wonderful. Will definitely come again when we are back in town. Delicious dirty chai and adorable cat snuggles. I love that this establishment uses reusable cups to keep down on waste read more

Gem City Catfé - a cat sitting on a scratching post - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

It was my birthday weekend and I wanted to visit the Cat Cafe. I gave the beau a stern talking to in the car prior to going in. "You will not adopt a cat.", "We have one cat and he doesn't do well with others.", "I know you're going to want to get another critter, but no." Once inside, we spoke with one of the friendly cat-baristas who educated us as to how having coffee with the kitties worked. We ordered our drinks and decided to enjoy the critters from the cafe portion and not sitting next to the kitties. The coffee was great. I wasn't sure what to expect given the kitty gimmick, but if this was closer to my home or work, it might be my regular coffee go-to shop. Thus ensured the cat-charming. A beautiful orange cat, sunning himself / herself in the window, gave me the look. You know the one, the one that says, "Aren't I cute, and fuzzy, and don't you want to take me home with you?" As I was looking through the glass and chatting away to the kitty, I got another look, the one from the beau....it said, "Oh, so I got the lecture, and look at you." While we didn't adopt a critter this day, I think this would be a fabulous place to fine a cat if you're in the market for an adorable feline. It's also a great place to go for a caffeinated beverage. Support the local business & check out the cat cafe! read more

Gem City Catfé - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

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(Disclaimer: I'm not "Yelp Elite" or "Yelp Gold" or anything like that, but I WAS my girlfriend's +1 for a Yelp-sponsored event that was held at the Catfé last week. Transparency is important.) Let's start by making one thing perfectly clear: I am NOT allergic to cats. Sadly, I am TERRIBLY allergic to people who say things like "Oh dear, your eyes are getting puffy and you're sounding a little hoarse. You're not allergic to cats are you? Because that would be just so AWFUL for you. I couldn't go on living if I were allergic to my little Mittens. Maybe you were a MEAN DOG in a past life amirite?" You usually find these people in the same places you find large groups of actual cats, so I can understand why there's been some confusion on this matter. At Gem City Catfé, the kitties live in a special lounge, separated from the main dingin and serving area by a set of double-doors for obvious health code and hygiene purposes. This doesn't mean you aren't allowed to bring your drinks and snacks into the kitty lounge, it just means that you don't HAVE to if you don't feel like fending off four-footed muffin-thieves or chasing attention-hungry residents off of your keyboard while you're trying to get some work done. Plus, even if you stay on the "outside" you can enjoy watching the cats run around and play through the large windows. It is a very relaxing way to work. Something I noticed about the GCC kitty-space is that it doesn't SMELL like a kitty space. While part of this can be attributed to the fact that the litterboxes are in an area inaccessible to patrons (and which doubles as the overstimulated-feline chill room), much of the credit obviously goes to the friendly and enthusiastic staff, who clearly love their work and who are very diligent about cleaning and upkeep. GCC's coffee is sourced from local roaster Boston Stoker, makers of the only Highlander Grogg worth drinking and, therefore, the only flavored coffee worth drinking. They have a few teas, including some non-caffeinated herbal offerings, and a few juices as well. Their baked goods selection is fresh and varied, and includes some vegan options that surprised and delighted my dairy-allergic girlfriend, who is Ohio's foremost connoisseur of vegan cupcakes. (Said girlfriend may ALSO be allergic to obnoxious cat people, as she has needed to use an inhaler when confronted by them in the past. Good thing there were plenty of cats around at the time to calm her nerves!) They have a large event space in the cat-free upstairs, which would be a great place to hold a party or extremely casual business meeting. During my last visit, Lester and Larry Gates from Invoke Restaurant was serving food up there, but those guys deserve a whole separate review. A few of their cats are permanent residence, but most of them (eight or so) are looking for full-time families. I found myself quite taken with an adoptable cat named "Dahlia". Unlike some of the cats, who had no shame about begging for treats and tripped over their tails in search of attention, Dahlia was incredibly dignified in her approach to feline-human interaction. She came up to me as if to say "I notice that you are a person who would like to pet a cat. As it happens, I am a cat who would like to be petted by a person. Briefly. Perhaps we could effect a trade?" After that exchange, she retreated to a high shelf to observe the room and think long kitty thoughts. Were I not so terribly allergic to cats...I mean "obnoxious cat people", I would have tried to adopt Dahlia. But I can't, so you should take advantage of my misfortune by going to visit her and then giving her a nice forever home. Besides, even if you're not looking for a cat of your very own, you'll enjoy a nice cup of coffee. On an entirely unrelated note: Claritin really is a miracle drug and whoever invented it should get, at the very least, a Nobel Prize and a lifetime subscription to "Modern Cat" magazine . read more

Gem City Catfé - The tastefully-appointed Cat Lounge at Gem City Catfé. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

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This place is so cute! I'm not much of a car person but I loved the cafe and the cats were actually very well trained. My boyfriend loved it here (so if you're a cat person, highly recommend)! I also had the opportunity to try the chai tea latte with almond milk which was good, not too sweet! I would definitely come here again. It's such a nice place to hang out or study. read more

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When I found out this place was going to exist, I was thrilled. My boyfriend is the real cat person but he is also in denial of his cat allergies. This seemed like the perfect test to see if it was cats... or sudden colds happen every time a cat is near. Getting into the building was tricky. Old buildings can have so many doors. I tried them all. Inside the cafe is white. Very white. But decorated. So you can tell it's a plan to stay clean but it has this crisp look rather than a hospital look. I had wondered if the cats were just going to be running the show, dodging between mugs, rubbing themselves on the desserts. But they are in a giant plexiglass enclosure, two doors to keep them in. My boyfriend and I checked in for our appointment and ordered. When I found out there were tiny, red velvet vegan cupcakes available, the experience became even better. My boyfriend had a tiny lemon bar. I'm not sure why the people treats were doll sized. Easier for cats to steal away? We were warned some of them would so just that. We both had hibiscus blueberry tea as it was the only warm decaf drink available. We agreed it was pretty awful. But neither of us likes hibiscus. They have shirts for sale that are adorable. The ladies who work there are sparky and very nice. Clearly in love with what they do. My boyfriend and I sat with at a small table. In the cat box. That That tiny cupcake, oh, geez. I don't know how he felt about his lemon bar. I was engrossed in that cupcake. A local lady makes their desserts for them. You won't get them elsewhere. After I had been sitting next to the cat I had claimed when we sat down, I switched places with my boyfriend to let him to next to the cat. It was really busy and it barely seemed like there was a cat to be found. I kindly suggested my boyfriend rub his face in the cat's fur. He thought I was joking. I was not. It's nice to pet the lovely cats, but we had a mission. He did so. And couple more times. His eyes started itching and suddenly I was having an asthma attack. I didn't think I was allergic at all. So, this cafe has great tiny pastries and is a fantastic diagnostic tool. Use it wisely. You have to sign a waiver before going in. You run the same risk we did. Disappointment. Update: We came here for a Yelp event. I loaded up on Claritin. And brought an inhaler. Things went much more smoothly but limiting time with the cats was still for the best. read more

I love cats, but I would not go here to see any. Not only are the employees insanely rude, they can't follow drink directions. I went in to see some cats and get a coffee. Huge mistake. I wanted an iced salted caramel mocha and they just gave me a salter caramel. I asked it to be remade and told them the correct drink but they still made a salted caramel. The whole time the baristas were so rude, I really wanted to cry. When I was finally able to see the cats it was such a small room! Very weird and uncomfortable!!! I felt so bad for the cats. I honestly think this place should be shut down. Everything about this place was weird and made me so depressed to be around stressed cats and very mean baristas read more

Yay for being the first to review. This little spot in St Anne's Hill loves the kitties. There is a small area in the front where can order coffee and baked goods. If you want to spend time with the cats, you need a reservation. It's $10 a person unless you "join," in which case it's $5 for your hour with the cats. You sign a waiver. You can take your food and drink into the cat room, where there are lots of great toys and climbing trees and swings for the cats. Most of the cats were very friendly and wanted to play. All in all, if you need some coffee and want to support the four-legged babies and get a little pet therapy, this is the spot for you. It's very clean, everyone is very friendly and knowledgeable. And, if you aren't careful, you'll end up adopting one of those sweet peas and taking it home. read more

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Lots of comfortable seating with tables and outlets outside the cat area for non-cat visitors. Good lattes, friendly staff, good vibes, air conditioned, and a free parking lot in the back. I didn't try the cat area but it looks nice and people inside looked happy to be playing with cats. Overall a great space. read more

A wonderful cafe if you are looking to adopt a cat. The service, food and coffee are great as well. Highly recommend!

I come in here all the time just for coffee, because it's some of the best downtown, with ample parking. Everyone is friendly and you get to watch cats play while you wait. My book club meets here often, at 11am one Saturday per month. The upstairs space is huge and holds plenty of people. We never worry about finding a table for 8-10. It's super clean, too. No doubt. Everything in the snack case is wrapped individually and the surfaces are cleaned all the time. They have also been doing the work to reduce waste: reusable hot and cold containers for "here", compostable straws, etc. read more

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I love supporting Gem City Catfe. The staff is always fantastic, kitties are always special, and the coffee is delicious. Mr. Baby is my favorite read more

Gem City Catfé - Kid friendly, as longs as you can make sure you kids do not run around and scare the kitties! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

My daughter and I visited this catfe for the first time because we love cats and this place is absolutely amazing. We had a bit of trouble locating the parking lot since you have to go down an alley to get there. The staff was very friendly and helpful, we ordered drinks and instead of disposable cups they put your drink in insulated tumblers.The cats' room was great, there were a lot of scratching posts, toys, and many areas for the cats to hide out if they needed a break. You can tell the staff loves cats and loves being around them! I'm impressed with Gem City Catfe and I will return and I absolutely recommend if you are looking to add a new furry member to your family or just enjoy a delicious drink go here because you won't be disappointed! read more

The honey cinnamon latte was light and not too sweet. It was a very calm atmosphere and we loved watching the cats and picking out their personalities. We didn't pay the extra $10 to go in and play with the cats but just looked at them from outside the glass walls. read more

Gem City Catfé - Honey cinnamon latte iced and hot w/ a coffee cake muffin - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

The most delightful barista! Love the order ahead plus a cute environment to hang out and work in

I love this business concept. College campus area, coffee shop, cat love. Genius. You can make an appointment online or just walk-in. Grab a hot drink and maybe a muffin. Use the free WiFi while you wait for your appointment time. Fill out the waiver on the IPAD provided (strictly a technicality). The cats are all very docile. Once you enter the cat domain area. Love the cats up to your hearts content. Clearly a lot of people visit regularly. There are toys to play with the felines. Lots of shelves and tubes for the cats to crawl in. They are able to get away if they don't want attention but most were really into the visiting pet lovers. Lots of them just slept and you could pet them or lay down on big floor pillows and nap along with them! All the cats are available for adoption. You can also buy a membership and get visits for half price. It's very calming to just be around them. They are very chill. Used to attention. Great way to experience animal love without all the work and expense of owne read more

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I've been to this place multiple times a week with friends before school. The prices are a bit high, but most definitely worth it. The environment is really chill, clean, and great for getting work done if need be. read more