7 Purr-fect Cat Cafes in and Around Philadelphia
We’re not kitten around! Whether you want to adopt a furry friend or need some pet therapy, these seven cat cafes have you covered.
Get a Gato cat cafe / Photograph by Kae Lani Palmisano
There’s a lot to love about cat cafes. If you’ve never been to one, here’s the quick gist of how they work: They’re coffee shops with adoptable cats lazing about, often operating as nonprofit organizations or partnering with local animal shelters. It’s a win for kitties and humans alike!
Philadelphia welcomed its first cat cafes in 2016, Le Cat Cafe and the now-shuttered Kawaii Kitty Cafe, but the idea originated in Taiwan in the ’90s. In the United States, the concept has gotten popular in the last ten years, and the Philadelphia area is no exception.
You can sip artisanal coffee while a cat pads around nearby, work on your computer and pet a furry friend between Zoom calls, and just hang out for some pet therapy. For those interested in adopting, spending time with the cats is essential to seeing if they’d be a good fit for their home, and a cat cafe is a way more relaxing environment than an animal shelter.
If you’re feeling squeamish about the idea of mixing animals and food, don’t worry — the city is there with you. Cafes are required under most health guidelines to separate the areas where food is prepared and served from the cats’ domain. Some smaller cat cafes integrate those spaces but then serve only limited beverages and don’t have a full kitchen or menu. Reservations for all local cat cafes are encouraged, if not required, to limit the stress on the cats and to give staff enough time to preserve clean conditions.
Ready to give a cat cafe a try? Here’s where to go in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs.
Get A Gato, Bella Vista
One of Philadelphia’s newest cat cafes is Get A Gato, located on the boundary between Bella Vista and Queen Village. They serve Latin-inspired food and drinks based on the owner’s Colombian heritage — hence the cafe’s name. They partner with Fishtails Animal Rescue to find good homes for rescued felines, who are kept in a separate room in the cafe. Your visit will be monitored by staff to ensure human and animal safety. Reservations are highly encouraged, and children under five are not allowed to visit with the cats. 638 Christian Street.
Le Cat Cafe, Brewerytown
Located at 27th and Girard, this spot bills itself as a “Purr-isian”-style cafe, with delightful graphics of cats in French berets and an Eiffel Tower full of sleeping felines. Unlike many cat cafes, which must keep the food and animal areas separate for health reasons, this cafe allows the cats to roam around with the guests. In exchange, though, their menu is limited to self-serve coffee, tea, and cider, which is included in the cost of your 60-minute visit. Staff recommend you make a reservation online in advance, given the small space, to be sure you can visit with the cats when you want to. As Philly’s longest-running establishment of its kind, they also regularly host creative, cat-themed events — like yoga, board game nights, and craft parties — if you’re looking for more than just to sit with their adoptable kitties from Green Street Rescue. Check out their Instagram for up-to-date event schedules. 2713 West Girard Avenue.
Whiskers Cat Cafe, South Philadelphia
Whisker Cat Cafe is a family-run coffee shop that recently opened up at 15th and Snyder. The husband and wife owners, Timothy and Lina Phillips, create a warm, hospitable environment for their guests to visit with adoptable kitties. Their website boasts nearly 75 adoptions in 2024 and a photo gallery of current and past feline guests, illustrating the amount of love and care they pour into Whiskers. The cafe itself focuses on the animals more than the food and beverages; they offer coffee, tea, and hot chocolate that is included in a small fee you pay to visit. Unlike other cafes that stress reservations, Whiskers welcomes walk-ins and small children. 1440 Snyder Avenue.
Cat Nook Cafe, Norwood
Cat Nook Cafe is Delaware County’s only cat cafe. Open since 2018, it is entirely staffed by volunteers in partnership with the Animal Coalition of Delaware County. They are often looking for new volunteers if you want to get involved — or check out the many adorable adoptable cats in need of a good home. Cat Nook is more cat than cafe; they don’t offer much beyond coffee and tea. For a small fee, you can reserve up to an hour online to visit with the cats and contemplate adoption. Walk-ins can only visit for 15 or 30 minutes, depending on availability. 18 West Winona Avenue.
The Black Cat Cafe, Devon
Operated by the Pet Adoption and Lifecare Society in Chester County, the Black Cat Cafe levels up the normal cat cafe experience. Chef Judy Clemens offers ambitious breakfast and lunch menus and has been recognized by Main Line Today in 2024, 2023, and 2022 for her gluten-free options and takeout service. Rounding out your cozy cafe experience, adoptable cats are on-site to purr and lure you into taking home a new little friend. In true breakfast-and-lunch-spot fashion, the cafe keeps limited hours and stops serving breakfast in the afternoon. We recommend checking their website or calling ahead before visiting. 42 Berkley Road.
MeWow Cafe, Doylestown
Owned and managed by a mother-daughter duo, Eilene and Karla Kramer, Bucks County’s MeWow Cafe offers coffee, tea, and desserts and boasts an impressive gift shop of every cat-themed item you could imagine. They partner with Bucks County SPCA and Kitty Junction to welcome cats into MeWow and process their adoptions. You can see the adorable gallery of potential feline friends on their website. The cafe accepts walk-ins but prefers reservations, especially on busy weekends when they cannot guarantee serving everyone. Children under five are prohibited from entering. MeWow closes from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. every day, but keep in mind that 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. is “sleepy kitty time” for their feline tenants. 3617 Old Easton Road.
PURRsonal Space, Palmyra
Billed as South Jersey’s cat lounge, PURRsonal Space is so much more than a cat cafe. Owner Lori Genstein not only offers the “cage-free” lounge — full of adoptable cats and serving coffee, tea, and pre-packaged snacks — but the non-profit serves as a fundraising hub. Genstein regularly collects donations of food and funds for sick cats’ veterinary care, as well as takes up animal welfare concerns. Because PURRsonal Space is mostly a one-woman show, the cat lounge has very limited hours: 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. But the visit will definitely be worth your while. 1005 Market Street.
