My friends and I came here for my friend's bachelorette party because she is obsessed with cats, and she absolutely loved it. While I am not the biggest cat person and am a little allergic, I still thought the experience was pretty fun, though my nose was itching the entire time haha. Our group of four made a reservation in advance for about $17 per person. The process was easy, and the website clearly explains the waivers and house rules. When we arrived, we had to wait briefly while the staff cleaned the lounge after the previous group. We spent that time browsing the small gift shop, and I bought a lavender lemonade. Once inside the cat lounge, the staff reviewed the rules again and then let us interact freely with the cats. There were a few other groups in the room, so it felt a bit busy. Some cats were very playful, while others were more relaxed. The room is well set up with cat trees, climbing areas, and cozy spots, giving the cats plenty of space to do their own thing. The staff was attentive, introduced the cats by name, and made sure everyone was respectful. I really like that the cats are available for adoption, which makes the experience feel meaningful. Conversely, I personally felt the hour-long session was a bit long, and I would probably choose one of their special events next time, such as the wine with cats or yoga with cats events. Overall, I can see why people enjoy places like this, especially those looking to adopt. Most importantly, my friend had an amazing time, and there were some truly adorable cats there. read more

Sip & Purr Cat Cafe - Pet Adoption Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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We enjoyed our visit this weekend. The barista was nice and great with handling people with limited coffee experience, and the staff in the cat room were very sweet and knowledgeable about all of the cats and their preferences. Loved that we could buy the treat packs to share with the kitties! Very clean, well run place and happy our visit could help support the cats. Make sure to make a reservation, it was super easy to do on their website! read more

I had never been to a cat and wasn't sure what to expect. We ordered drinks first at the cafe side. I got a lavender lemonade, which was delicious. My partner got a Fat Orange Chonky IPA. So on brand! They have quite a wide variety of cat and pet themed items and souvenirs for purchase. I got a cute magnet to take home. I went on a Friday, which is a discounted day, so it was quite crowded. You can bring your drinks into the cat side while you hang with the cats. They have a lot of toys, so you can use these to interact with the cats. The employee was feeding the cats when I was there, so I was able to watch them eat. Many of the cats are friendly and used to people, while others are not, which is expected of these shelter cats. I do wish some of the guests would stop trying to wake up the cats who were sleeping. Overall, this was a fun experience for a good cause because you can adopt these rescues. The cats were all so precious. I can't wait to come back here again! I am so glad to have found this place! read more

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Reservations are really a requirement on weekends, they were turning away walk-ins on a Sunday afternoon. Seems like a good cause, the coffee is decent and they have a good amount of cats. Friendly staff. read more

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I LOVE CATS!!! The cafe is separate from where the cats are but you can bring in your drinks etc if you choose when you go into see the cats. I recommend buying your tickets to see the cats in advance and select the time/date you want to do so you're guaranteed to see the cats. All staff is super nice and they have a bunch of cat merchandise to purchase. Definitely go here to buy gifts for any cat lover in your life. I 100% support this business, they are amazing. read more

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One star for the mission of the café in regards to helping cats find homes. Negative five stars for unwelcoming atmosphere, staff and false advertising. We can't own a cat and my little one, who is very gentle and familiar with cats really wanted to have hot cocoa and meet some Kitty's! Upon arrival to their "Walk-In Wednesdays" was coldly informed of No possibility. There were 2 patrons in the whole place. Paying full price for 15 minutes would have been a great compromise, and not a problem, but they were unwilling and honestly seemed not to care.. breaking the heart of my child. I feel as if this was based off hateful racist judgement and not availability. Don't make the world a colder place, be kind and do better Sip&Purr Staff. read more

Sip & Purr Cat Cafe - FALSE ADVERTISING (subject to availability) - Pet Adoption Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Love this place. Coffee and cats for a great cause. Whether you're on the hunt for the next furry member of your family or are just in need of some kitty cuddles, Sip and Purr is the place to be. I've been inside twice, and have crept through the window on countless occasions, and each experience has been great. The cats are healthy and well taken care of, plus, filling out the adoption papers online makes it easy to take your new best friend home. read more

Sip & Purr Cat Cafe - Pet Adoption Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I'm super biased because I adopted my cat from here in 2020. It's a great way to get to spend time with cats and maybe find one that is perfect for you. The coffee and tea drinks are very good as well. The staff is incredibly helpful and they don't hard sell you on the cats. They do give any and all information to the questions you may have. There are cats of all ages and temperaments and some are special needs (mine is a tripod, for example). Our cat was one of the Lebanon explosion survivors. I love that they partner with cat sanctuaries in other countries to give cats another chance at finding their forever home. Follow their Instagram or Facebook pages for updates on their endeavors and the cats themselves. Wednesday is the $5 day, it's $8 otherwise to visit the cats. I'd advise making an reservation because it's a very popular spot on the East Side. read more

I'm so happy that I live close to this place, it's fun to peek in the windows when I'm on a walk. I've been by to visit the cats several times. Even if you already have cats and can't adopt, it's fun to meet new ones and support this local business! They do require a reservation online, but have walk-in days and $5 days (check their website for current info). Also, they sometimes have openings if you show up but it's not guaranteed. In my experience, even if you sign the waiver online ahead of time, you have to do it again in person so arrive earlier than your reservation. While you are in the cat lounge area, there's always at least one employee who can answer any questions you have and they know their stuff! Be sure to grab a snack or beverage before you go in. They have a cute retail area with toys, unique cat gifts, cat food, etc. They offer bingo, cat yoga and other special events regularly. If you're a cat lover, please check out this place! read more

Love this place! My spouse and I went here for date night, and it was so much fun. Delicious drinks, and the cats were so cute! We had a great time playing with the kitties, and wish we could have taken one home. The staff were delightful as well, and introduced us to all of the cats! If you're in the area, I highly recommend this place! read more

Sip & Purr Cat Cafe - Kitty with a blep! - Pet Adoption Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The things we do for those we love. I found myself at the Sip & Purr Cat Cafe on Mother's Day weekend of course because it was a stop to please the boss. I won't tell any of the fellas because it's likely I'd have to forfeit the remainder of my "man card". So what is Sip & Purr you might ask? This is like two places combined into one. One half consists of a coffee shop / cocktail lounge. With drinks they offer sandwiches & desserts with a modern decor and a comfortable area to relax. The building is divided by a glass partitioned wall & the other half of the business is a cat rescue center. You must pay $8 to spend an hour with the about a dozen cats that are each looking for their next "forever" home. During your hour you can pet, play & just satisfy your cat loving self. You're allowed to bring your food/drink from one side into the other. Your drink perhaps is not a bad idea, but give it a second thought if you're considering eating in a smaller space with cats every where. Each cat is available for adoption and the $8 entry fee supports the cats and the business. There is no fee to visit the food/drink half and no charge to look at the cats through the window. This was not necessarily how I EVER envisioned myself spending a Friday night. My wife enjoyed our hour, the kids would certainly enjoy the experience and it would make a memorable date night experience. I guess it was a fun visit. Hopefully that doesn't mean I'm a cat person. read more

Sip & Purr Cat Cafe - Pet Adoption Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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For those times when you've left your house and thought "I really could've used a little more quality time with my cat." Yes, it's a cat cafe! With a separate actual food and drink (including beer and cocktails) area and a separate actual cat "lounge", the concept is similar to other cities- you pay to hang out with the kitties, many which are up for adoption if you so choose. There's a separate food area you can use regardless of your interest in going in the other area, and thankfully there's tons of Windows, so you could actually sip your beer or latte and see lots of feline shenanigans through the windows. You do have to pay to enter the cat area but not the cafe (full disclosure- a friend kindly made and paid for my reservation here so I don't know the cost) and sign a waiver and then your good to go. lots to like here- I'm pleased they have such huge windows for the cats. The space for them is outfitted with toys, cubby holes, beds ..but let's face it- cats love window perches and there was enough room for the 9 or 10 cats (I think?) in the place. It also had a pleasant smell when you walked in the place- kind of reminded me of jojoba oil so that's always nice. Honestly, maybe it's the result of it being new but the cats here seem less aloof and more friendly then their big city counterparts at the cat cafe I visited on the lower East side of Manhattan. Not even making a joke here, the cats, especially resident house cat "Bacon" were pretty friendly if perhaps a little sleepy (it was the middle of the after noon). They had an extensive coffee/ cafe type menu (I noticed homemade lavender syrup on the menu) as well as lots of craft beers and even cocktails (cat-tails: )? We tried a gluten free (lots of stuff labelled gf) turtle brownie and I had some cold pressed juice from their refrigerator case and both were great. Right next to Milwaukees little "black cat alley", Glad this concept has finally made it here. read more

Very friendly people, they care about the cats and potential adopters. Glad I adopted my cats from there! Very pleasant experience.

I have been there twice and have not got in. I am never coming here again. You ruined my birthday. Staff was very rude. While we were coming there it took us an hour so we called and they said they would hold our spot. When we came their, our mom was filling out the waiver the staff proceeded to say we only have 5 minutes in there. So my mom proceeded to ask for a refund but we could not get one so my mom got mad and the staff proceeded to record her. You only receive One star because all the staff was rude, had no empathy and should get some manners. read more

I was a bit hesitant to learn there is a fee for sitting with the cats. At around $8.00 plus per person. (My cat's live on a $13 bag of food for a month) I thought there would be a small group with the cats. We had at least 10-15 people in there with us. We made our Ressie online and it said to be there 15 minutes early. This must not be the case for the first sitting at 10AM? The doors opened right at 10AM. If you didn't complete the cat waiver online you have a chance to do it at the bar. We waited for drinks because it was a bit hectic. There really wasn't much on the menu for breakfast. I totally would have eaten there if they had more options. Iced coffee was also a no go because they don't have decaf. We ordered two iced teas. One with lavender and they had a small area with sugar substitute and other fixings. We were one of the first one's in with the cats though and were allowed a few minutes before the rush of people came in. The cats seemed overwhelmed at times with the sheer amount of people but they can leave at any time through these cat doors that lead into a private area. There is couch, a table and some window seating inside the cat area. Or you can opt for a floor seat. Bacon (the resident house cat) came up to us right away and most of the cats were very friendly. They come from a shelter and the goal is to get them adopted. Since they opened a week ago, six have been adopted. It's a cool idea and I am glad we went. It's pretty popular right now. As I was making our Ressie, my time slot disappeared. It was a cool experience though and once they get a bigger menu together, I'd like to try that. Everyone was really friendly and you can't help but fall in love with these friendly cats. If we could have more, we surely would adopt. I second the cute décor and atmosphere. read more

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Cat cafes have been popular in Europe for years as places where you can enjoy a coffee or meal while cats hang around and generally cat-ify your visit. There is a solid body of research showing how spending time with cats reduces stress, and generally boosts both physical and psychological health. So it felt natural that such cat cafes would make their way to the US (and to Milwaukee in particular). Thus Sip & Purr arrived on Milwaukee's East Side in 2018. Sip & Purr has a rotating set of adoptable cats with which you can socialize for an hour. If you're interested in adopting a cat, this is a great "try before you buy" opportunity to experience the personalities of different cats and discover which cat will choose you. And if you're not looking to adopt (or already have a cat at home), it's a chance to chill and play with some fun, energetic felines. During your visit, you can purchase bakery, drinks and some small dishes from the cafe portion of the establishment. Unlike Europe's cat cafes, Milwaukee Health Department regulations require the cafe and the "cat space" to be kept separate -- in the case of Sip & Purr, there are glass windows between the two areas. But you are allowed to take your food and drinks into the cat space for your visit. In addition to the cafe menu, Sip & Purr has a small selection of books and other cat-themed items available for purchase. The establishment also does various special events throughout the year, such as movie nights with cats and book signings by authors who document the feline universe. Prior to the opening of Sip & Purr Cat Cafe in Milwaukee, we used to travel to Cat Cafe Madison about 5-6 times a year. Unfortunately Cat Cafe Madison closed in 2018 due to the long-term construction/closure of Monroe Street (where it was located). One thing that Cat Cafe Madison offered (and which I wish was an option at Sip & Purr) was the option to pay and stay for unlimited time. That meant visitor could (and often would) bring laptops and spend hours working alongside the cats. (Or were the cats the ones doing the work??) If Sip & Purr offered a similar "extended visit" option, I would gladly boost my rating to five stars. I was surprised today to realize I hadn't yet posted a review of Sip & Purr. We've been frequent customers since the cat cafe opened over a year ago and always come away feeling happier than when we arrived. Even if you don't consider yourself a cat person, I encourage you to stop in for a visit and (perhaps) meet your furry new best friend. read more

Sip & Purr Cat Cafe - "Cats Are The Worst" book release party -- August 17, 2019. - Pet Adoption Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I went here on one of their special rate days so my visit was slightly discounted. I recommend booking your time slot online in advance because while we were there a few other groups showed up but weren't allowed in since it was at capacity. They have a large selection of drinks and some baked goods for while you wait or they deliver to you inside the cat room. I brought too bulky of a bag to play with cats and had to set it down to avoid bothering the cats. As for the cats they were so sweet and some were sleepier than others since they've been playing with visitors all day but make sure to rotate cats so others get a chance to visit each one and maybe adopt them! read more

**Response in photos I bought tickets for my brother and I to go to Sip and Purr Cat Cafe on E. Ivanhoe in Milwaukee. My brother's cat had died a few weeks earlier and he was so sad I knew I needed to do something. While there, he and a kitten named Bruce seemed to be a great fit so my brother filled out the paperwork, signing here, initialing there, so he could give Bruce his forever home. By the following morning, it was obvious Bruce had some type of respiratory illness. My brother called Sip and Purr (as instructed by their staff if there were any issues or concerns) and he was met with an accusing and threatening attitude. He was told he must have made the kitten sick and he must bring the kitten to the vet or return him immediately. My brother was very confused by the complete 180 of the staff member's attitude (a woman named Taylor), as if he had done something wrong. He simply wanted advice on where to take Bruce (if they had their own vet) and how to treat him until he could get him in to be seen. He was reminded that he signed a legally binding contract and Sip and Purr could demand the cat be returned for any reason and failure to do so would result in legal action (and he would be responsible for any court fees and their attorney fees). My brother was confused by Taylor's refusal to listen to him and her immediate threatening attitude. He was in no way disrespectful or aggressive to Taylor, but was treated that way by her. Taylor then began to say "hello? Hello? Hello? I can't hear you" and then hung up on him. My brother could hear laughter in the background while she was saying this. My mother, who is the one who paid for the cat as a gift to my brother, called the cafe and asked to speak to the manager, Katy McHugh. When Katy returned her call, my mother tried to explain the situation to Katy, but was met with a similar attitude as Taylor's. My mother explained that my brother's cat had passed away a few weeks earlier and that she hadn't seen him cry like that since he was a little boy and Katy laughed. Katy said they were not aware his cat had passed and had they known they would not have let him adopt one of theirs. (This was one of the first things my brother told the staff member when we arrived and she offered her condolences.) My mother asked why, but Katy refused to answer and instead kept interrupting her and twisting things, and then started to insist my mother was yelling at her (she was not, I was standing right next to her). Katy then said she would be calling my brother to tell him he must return Bruce to the cafe. Shortly thereafter, my brother received an email from Katy telling him he signed a legally binding contract and he was to return Bruce by 5:00 that day or the kitten would be considered stolen and they would take legal action that he would have to pay for. My brother called Katy to ask what he had done wrong but she continued to recite her mantra about him signing a legally binding contract giving her the right to demand the kitten be returned at any time and for any reason. She then said "hello? Hello? I can't hear you" and hung up on him. My brother and I returned Bruce to the cafe. It was heartbreaking because my brother and Bruce had already formed a bond. Bruce liked to run around the house and explore his new surroundings and then snooze on my brother's chest. My brother has taken this very hard. The loss of his other cat is still very fresh in his mind and now this. When we returned Bruce to the cafe, an older man came up to us and took Bruce and the crate he was in. My brother asked this man what he had done wrong and he stated Bruce needs to go to the vet. Erik stated he had an appointment with he vet prior to receiving the email to return him (I'll attach the proof of Erik's contact with the vet). Katy piped in that we needed to leave or she would call the police. My brother asked about the $105 my mother had paid and Katy again threatened to call the police on us. My brother had to threaten to call the police on Katy in order to get his crate back from her. So we left with no kitten, no money, and a lot of confusion about how it all went down. I question the legality of a contract that gives Sip and Purr the right to demand the return of your kitten for any reason, at any time, and then makes you liable for court costs and their attorney fees if you refuse. The contract should have been a HUGE red flag but we never thought it would go down like this. This was our experience with the Sip and Purr Cat Cafe on Ivanhoe in Milwaukee. We are now in search of a new kitten. Moral of the story, if you complain about the unprofessionalism, Katy reacts based solely off of her personal emotions, and completely disregards the well being of the cats she claims to care so much for. Not only that, but kennel cough is extremely contagious and can be life threatening, so be prepared to take a trip to the vet if you adopt a cat from here. read more

Sip & Purr Cat Cafe - Pet Adoption Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

A great option to spend time with cats for a nominal fee, drink a great beverage (caffeine, alcohol, and none of the above), or buy a cat theme gift for someone. We went on a casual Saturday evening and we're happy to see there were many healthy/playful kitties looking for homes. The environment is clean and they give plenty of information to help it be a positive experience for people and cat alike. It's also very interesting that they're an international rescue -- most of the cats when we went we're from Qatar! I would highly recommend for anyone looking to adopt as well as just get some cat time. read more

My favorite place to visit in MKE, friendly staff and very cute kitties and gifts! 10/10 read more

Sip & Purr Cat Cafe - Pet Adoption Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I want to start off by saying that when Sip & Purr was brand new, they were great. Now, staff is still pleasant, and they offer some cute treats and toys, but I genuinely worry for the cat's health. In the beginning year, all the cats looked healthy and lively. The time I went to the cafe before today, there was an obviously ill cat who was both underweight and sounded like he had respiratory issues. I emailed the cafe and never got a response. Today I took a friend to the cat cafe for their bday. The majority of the cats in the room looked underweight (you could see and feel the skin draping from the forequarter/shoulder bones), their coats looked rough (sick cats commonly stop grooming themselves), and the place smelled like sick cat. If you own a cat, you know what I mean. Not the sharp stench of litter box that needs changing, but the sort of miasma of incontinence/stale urine and cats who are unable to keep themselves clean. One of the cats nipped me out of nowhere as well (I have had cats since I was a small child, I know a cats body language when they don't want to be touched and this was without warning). I admit I am feeling worried because even though I washed my hands right after the nip, the general sickly state of the cats makes me wary. It felt like the majority of the cats I saw today should have been kept in the back areas in quarantine. I don't know if anything had changed behind the scenes, but I would hesitate going back. I do applaud them for matching up cats to their forever homes, and for the general staff being nice, but that doesn't help when the cats themselves look and smell ill. I hope it's just a passing thing for both the cafe and the kitties. read more

You have to pay to hang out in the room with the cats?? Weird.... Plus - they do have alcoholic beverages and homemade baileys. The actual cafe part is pretty small. They do have food and other options and like big band music. read more

I have never had nothing but perfect experiences at Sip and Purr. My last adoption was from here. We have had him for over 2 years now. He is great with our other 2 cats, as loving as can be and as healthy as can be. Sip and Purr's staff and the owner were wonderful and helped us every step of the way. I recommend Sip and Purr to everyone and everyone who I know that has adopted from there has had the same wonderful experience as myself. I am forever grateful to Sip and Purr for bringing me my little baby and thankful that still to this day, they support us if ever a questions arises. If I could, I would give them 100 stars. read more

My boyfriend and I visited Sip and Purr on the day it opened. We enjoyed our meowmosa and the cats were so cute! We got lots of cuddles and it was fun to chat with the staff. The space is very clean, and I appreciate that you have to reserve a spot ahead of time so it's not too crowded. We returned recently just for appetizers and drinks and to watch the cats through the window. We got the mushroom bruschetta, which was amazing!! A bit expensive ($12 for 3 small pieces) but delicious none the less. There are lots of tables and a little counter space where you can easily enjoy some food while watching the cats run around. We also got cocktails, which were good as well. This is a great spot to stop in and enjoy a drink, even if you don't want to pay to visit the cats. It would be nice if you could get a voucher or something for a future cat visit if you spend a certain amount of money, perhaps that's something they could offer in the future to get more people in the door to buy food, as well as more people in to pet (and adopt) the kitties. Love having this spot on the East Side! read more

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Let the cat puns begin! This cafe is purrrfect, the cat's meow, menu isn't kitten around. Okay done! I enjoyed my time here. Made a reservation beforehand, and went on a Sunday afternoon. At first I thought the cost was a little much but when you see all they are doing with adoption and promoting cat & human wellness, it's worth it. There were about five other people in the room with me, so it was not too crowded. There were kittens in a separate area and I simply asked staff to hold one, which was quickly accomplished. Their menu is very cute and I like the ceramic "paper plates" that food is served on. Their merch is spot on and I love the graphics. I'm impressed that over 100 cats have already been adopted, and their IG account is a great follow. My critique is that cat hair cleaning should be kept up more. The black couch in the sitting room was so covered, no one wanted to sit! And chilling with cats raises serotonin levels. You leave with a pep on your step. read more

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Fun place for cat snuggles. Coffee was good. Some staff seemed to be annoyed with the request to hold the kittens which was a little strange. Pretty place with lots of places to sit. read more

Friendly staff; great food/drinks for the price paid... and of course!!! Cute cats! Sip and Purr has very kind staff. The cat cookies are only $2.50 and they are practicing a great mission is getting these cute babies forever homes. read more

Sip & Purr Cat Cafe - Pet Adoption Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

To the cat and coffee lover such as myself-this is the ideal place. The cat area and coffee bar are separated so if someone going with you would rather watch you mingle with the kitties through the glass, they can. I had just a basic, boring cup of black coffee but still enjoyed it. Staff I interacted with on my Thursday visit, were all wonderful. I gladly support and believe in the cause. I will be back. read more

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Disappointed in my last visit. Took 35 minutes to get a glass of wine and when we went to ask about where the wine was, the kitchen staff said they forgot about it. Also put in an application from their website for a cat and messaged via Instagram inquiring about the cat..never heard back then saw two days later the cat I had applied for was adopted. Even if someone else put an application before me, it would have been nice for someone to respond back to my application & or message. I think I'll look elsewhere for adoption after that scenario. read more

It's a cat lounge, its a cafe, it's a gift shop for cat lovers. Little gem of a place on the lower east side of Milwaukee that serves an assortment of beverages including coffee, beer, wine and juices, along with small bites and sweet treats. And the best part...the on-premise cats are available for adoption. read more

I went to Sip&Purr on its opening day and fell in love with the cute decor and atmosphere. I was served my drink promptly upon ordering at the bar, the downside was I needed to get in a long line to pay for my purchase. I would have liked for them to have a second pay station open. For drinks they have local craft beer, a few craft cocktails, a simple wine list, coffee and tea. They definitely kept it simple, yet had a good variety of options. As for food they have more "snacky" options. All of them sounded good and were presented well. The cafe and the cats are separate. I highly recommend making a reservation online ahead of time if you want to be with the cats. They do have a waitlist in the cafe you can join if they have no shows. I would definitely like to come here again after the opening crowd settles down, its a tiny establishment so I felt a little cramped. If you check out their website it has everything you need to know prior to coming! read more

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Great staff, fantastic baked goods, fabulous cat lounge. We had a great experience and would love to go back if we lived closer!

For someone who's mildly allergic to dander, I was pleasantly surprised how clean and organized this cafe is. Filled with the cutest international cats and knowledgable staff, will definitely recommend this place to others. read more

My son loves Sip & Purr! We've been several times, and he really enjoys playing with and petting the kitties (especially if it's a little slow - on crowded days it's not quite as fun - you want more felines than humans for a perfect experience)! What I love most about Sip & Purr though is their mission... Who can say anything bad about cat rescue and rehoming. I follow them on social media and have found their international rescue efforts amazing and inspiring. I'll continue to support this place as long as I can! read more

Cool concept! Make a reservation to get into the room with the cats though. We parked here to take some pics in black cat alley. We couldn't per the cats because the time slot was full with the current people inside & we had to get somewhere else. I think the time slots are every half hour. Coffee was good! read more

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I don't know how this place is now and I don't care... I will never forget how the owner completely took advantage of local artists, begging them to give their artwork to get to feature/sell when she was opening only to put all the work up and not bother to put the NAMES OF THE ARTISTS or the prices for over a week, or have people sign a contract, etc. She had the nerve to tell me I got so much exposure for the few days my art was up (that she begged me not to put a price on so she could essentially display it forever for free) despite never crediting me so nobody knew it was mine... thanks lady. She was mad I wrote an honest review about her place (4 stars at the time) and demanded I get my art back but only have me two days and implied she'd get rid of it. I have since heard from other artists and other people that know her that she is not kind to people that work with her either, what a surprise! She told me to take down my review and at the time I did, but I was sitting here looking at the painting I spent many hours on for her shop, and thinking about how disgusting it is someone who goes on about being a small business who is all about charity took advantage of so many local artists to make her look good in the beginning and I can't let that slide. Glad we all could help boost your shops image while we got no credit... yay for you! Edit: She is probably going to reply to this like she did my other one so I'll add this right now -- she also claimed I "stole my artwork" from Splash, which was a painting bar I worked at. The painting I "plagiarized" was my OWN ARTWORK that I designed for Splash, and was given permission to make a similar design. I told her this before I even gave her the art, and she said it was fine. Then after making me get my art because she was mad over a 4 star review and I told her how ridiculous she was, she said I had "copied" a painting that I made. I reminded her it was my own work, but she didn't reply. She wanted my art gone for the 4 star review. She wrote me a multi-paragraph email berating me for it. read more

I've always wanted to go to one of these. How convenient to be next to the murals at the Black Cat Alley! Good tea selection and what adorable cats!! It's good to know that all the cats stay there until they are adopted and the fee for hanging with the fuzzies goes to their care and for other feline friends. read more

Any place that can incorporate a dozen of cats you can pet, love on and play with.. I am in! This place is super cute! It does cost 8 dollars to be in the room with the cats ( cheaper in Monday's and Wednesday's I believe) but completely worth it because it goes towards the greatest employees ever, the cats! Spots are limited and I feel like it was never too overcrowded where I couldn't find a buddy to love on. Don't want to pay money? Well find a window seat, grab a book and enjoy watching the cats from the window. Lastly all the kitties are adoptable! Also side note: I have to admit being basically connected to black cat alley was a stellar idea. read more

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Love this place! The food and the cats are separate, so if you have allergies, you'll be ok. You go into another area to visit with the kitties (and can bring your food inside there). Visiting with the cats is $8, however they have certain $5 days, and it's certainly money well spent. The kitty area is really clean and not stinky at all, as some shelters can be. It's great that they've been able to do so many adoptions! The food and drinks are really good, and they have vegetarian/vegan options. It's really a great hangout spot in Milwaukee for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You can arrange cat visits online or in person, however, it's useful to check online first to see if there are lounge tickets still accessible. They also have special events, such as story time and drag queens! read more

This not a cat cafe in the Japanese sense (猫カフェ) so I was sorely disappointed. This is an upscale cat shelter that serves good coffee and cat related gifts. On a weekend you need to make reservations ahead of time and prepare yourself mentally. There are cat lovers and there are the sorts of cat lovers who shop only at Whole Foods and it's the latter who make up about half of the clientele here. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for every cat that rides out of here in a Range Rover, but these sorts of people often don't like sitting next to me. No worries, the people who work here are great. I think I like the vibe better at MADACC or the Humane Society but this place has espresso and they serve it up in proper espresso cups. They've also got catnip toys with the really good stuff inside as my pal Tasha Yar will attest to. So every hour on the hour a dozen people get to go into the cat area and play or pet pussies until the next session. Now as it turns out the first Japanese style neko cafe wasn't even Japanese, it was in Taipei Taiwan. But like so much other cultural diffusion, the Japanese made it Japanese. read more

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