The Cat Cafes of Ohio, USA

Hello Katzenworld Family!

Have you ever been to Ohio?  It’s not the first place people think when planning a visit to the USA, but if you do, they have a real treat for cat lovers.

Ohio has four cat cafes and when considered together, the state has not just some of the best in the United States, but the world.

All of these feline emporiums- Gem City Catfe in Dayton, Kitty Brew Cat Cafe in Mason, AffoGATO Cat Cafe in Cleveland and Eat, Purr, Love in Columbus- feature rescue cats available for adoption, but they also have something else in common.

They all deliver a top-quality cafe experience.

It’s really difficult work managing a cat cafe, even more so a successful cat cafe, which is why this grouping is particularly special. Whether it’s outstanding service, amazing coffee or beautiful interiors, each location offers such a memorable visit that you may want to consider circumnavigating Ohio on your next holiday.

I, for one, am a huge fan and unexpectedly, a champion for Ohio tourism.

Diamond Kitty: Gem City Catfe, Dayton

I loved visiting Gem City Catfe so much that I felt a twinge of jealousy when I left. I was envious of those lucky Dayton residents (hometown of aviation pioneers the Wright Brothers) who literally have a gem of cat cafe and coffee shop in their hometown.

My trip to Gem City (also, a nickname of Dayton) had been months in the making with several messages back and forth with Karin, the owner. When AffoGATO in Cleveland finally opened in January, I made a plan to visit all four Ohio cat cafes over one chilly February

Located in historic St. Anne’s Hill neighborhood, known for its architecture and artsy vibe, Gem City is housed in beautifully and sensitively restored Victorian.  The facility is spacious, light and airy- throw in the lounge-music soundtrack and the overall environment is hip and modern, yet comfortable and welcoming.

I can enthusiastically endorse Gem City as one of the most beautiful cat cafes in the world, but this isn’t a case of style over substance. Karin and her team are serious about facilitating rescue and adoption, as well as educating the community about animal welfare issues such as fostering and TNR.

Staff member Sabrina (a perfect combination of cat lover and coffee aficionado) warmly greeted me and generously offered a tour and answers to all my questions. Gem City opened on January 2, 2018, supported by a successful kickstarter campaign and since then, a loyal cadre of regulars well-attended community education events such as TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) certification.

During the tour, I had one of the best cups of coffee since-I-don’t-know-when- a smooth and spicy Highland Grogg blend courtesy of local coffee roaster Boston Stoker. The drinks menu is expansive, with many tempting hot and cold options including specialty coffees/teas, wine and snacks.

Tour complete, I excitedly entered the cat room, a relaxing (and immaculately clean) space filled with natural textures, large windows and cozy nooks that are perfect for cat-napping. The centerpiece is a replica of the Wright Flyer (Dayton being the home to famous aviators, the Wright brothers), the perfect perch for the felines to peer down at the humans.

There are typically between 14 and 18 cats living at Gem City, provided via 501c3 non-profit rescue partner, Gem City Kitties. Their stated mission says it all: Save All The Cats: We’re working on creating a more compassionate community for cats in Dayton, OH.

The felines in residence the day I visited included three cats that are full-time residents (owing to their people skills that help socialize the more shy fur babies) with the rest being adoptable. They represent a delightful variety of personalities, colors and sizes. My favorites included Meowrville Wright, a playful long-haired tuxedo, Snooblet, a serious ginger, Pepper Jack, a sweet midnight colored boy and Crofty Wan Catnobi, a gray tabby with a piercing stare that laid claim to the Wright Flyer.

Between their intelligent and passionate commitment to save lives, plus top-notch combination of cats, facility, food/drink and staff, Gem City Catfe is a serious contender for best in the world. Please support their mission and prioritize a visit ASAP!

Click here for more information.

Brew Crew: Kitty Brew Cat Cafe, Mason

There are kind, hardworking people in this world, and then there are people like Jenni.

Jenni takes her mission of finding homes for the areas homeless cats seriously. Since opening two years ago, Kitty Brew has facilitated nearly 1300 adoptions- amongst the highest totals in North America- impressive considering the others that adopt on this level are shelter extensions and Jenni is an independent cat cafe.

Not that she doesn’t have help. Jenni works with several local shelters including Animal Friends Humane SocietyPaws CauseHart of Cincinnati, and His Hand Extended Sanctuary. Plus, her staff are A1, a loyal crew of cat lovers that also have excellent people skills. But it’s Jenni that is the heart and soul of Kitty Brew and her compassionate, tireless dedication is a huge factor in why so many people have adopted here.

Her lovely personality made my visit here an absolute delight.

It was a crazy busy Saturday when I dropped by, with a child’s birthday party in full swing. I checked in on the cafe side and was greeted with a genuine smile from Jenni. She was working between the cafe and cat lounge, separate (and spacious!) rooms connected large windows that let you take in the kitty action while sipping a superb coffee supplied by local roaster Seven Hills.

Despite all that she was juggling that day, Jenni took the time to give me a tour (this place is spotless!) and introduce me to all the cats- there were 33 in residence that day including gentle calico Fern, sweet ginger Butters and feisty snow cat Whip Cream. I was also lucky enough to make the acquaintance of an enormous ginger tom and keen outdoor enthusiast (aka community cat), Will Feral (pictured above).

Will is exceptionally friendly and likes to hang out near the cafe, but is not keen on living inside. As we petted him, Jenni and I swapped stories and laughed about our crazy cat lives. This is what I love the most about my cat travels- the ability to make friends for life- the kind of friends that want to talk about cats as much as I do.

Easy-going, big-hearted and full of good cheer (and cats!), the atmosphere of Kitty Brew matches the personality of its owner, something that will surely deliver a memorable and joyful visit!

Click here for more information.

Goodness Gatos: AffoGATO Cat Cafe, Cleveland

I had been keen on visiting Ohio’s cat cafes for months but was patiently waiting for AffoGATO to open.

It was definitely worth the wait.

Opened on January 2, 2019, I had been stalking their social media trying to get a sense of the atmosphere. Generally, I’ve found it helpful to wait a while before visiting a new cafe since there are usually kinks to work out. By February, I couldn’t wait any longer and made arrangements to complete a circuit around Ohio over President’s Day weekend.

Located in the Tremont neighborhood, one of the oldest in Cleveland, I was impressed by the cool shops and arty vibe. Inside the cafe, I was delighted that the atmosphere held the same appeal- trendy, but also welcoming and down-to-earth. The folks of AffoGATO (named after the Italian coffee-based dessert consisting of a scoop of vanilla gelato topped with a shot of hot espresso) were very thoughtful in their planning and everything is finished to a high standard. Likewise, the staff are top notch- friendly and generous in sharing tips to make your experience memorable, such as which kitties love a chin scratch or cuddle.

After months of scouting locations, they began the hard work of designing the cafe and cat lounge areas which are flawless- I especially loved the enormous catwalk in the cat room which is a stunning piece of art as well a functional hero, allowing the cats a place to retreat when they need alone time.

Speaking of cats, I met so many darlings (courtesy of Cleveland Animal Protection League) that it was hard not to melt into goo. First, I became smitten with Troy, a handsome ginger boy that flirted with the patrons in the coffee shop.  Then, I played with Livie and Cray, gray beauties and finally Damian, a shy tuxedo that was finally adopted shortly after my visit.

No need to wait like I did- AffoGATO is open and ready to wow you- be sure and visit Cleveland at your earliest opportunity!

Click here for more information.

Purr Magic: Eat Purr Love, Columbus

I’ve had some amazing adventures visiting cat cafes all over the world, but sometimes, I experience what I can only classify as pure magic.

My visit to Eat, Purr, Love was one of those memorable events, filled with personal connections. I was fortunate to meet Maghen, one of the cafe’s managers who filled me in on the history of the cafe. It was originally opened two years ago by another owner, who collaborated with Columbus Humane as her shelter partner. Last year, Columbus Humane, with former staffers Maghen and Emma at the helm, took over the cafe completely.

That experience has turned out to be crucial as Maghen successfully navigated between guests and cats that day. We discussed how much effort it takes to maintain the group dynamic, trying to ensure there are enough well-socialized and confident cats to help the shy ones overcome any trust issues.

The cat room is spacious, clean and completely charming, with plenty of comfortable seating that feels homey and relaxing. Pleasant lighting and soft music enhance the chilled vibe.

There were eleven cats in the cafe that day, including four full-time residents. I was smitten with chubby-cheeked tabby and white Walter and petite black kitty Alexandria.  The cats for adoption were also a loving bunch like supermodel/table-lounger ginger Sunny, treat-seeking Lane and Tonka, a cuddly black cat with the softest fur ever!

I was bonding with Tonka when a couple, Christian and Megan sat down near me. We made introductions and engaged in that friendly, yet kinda goofy conversation cat lovers have in the heady presence of so many furry felines. I joked with them about cuddling with Tonka while they could, since he was so loving and social, he wouldn’t remain adoptable for long.

Turns out, Tonka had just become a member of their family that day, making him adoption #401.

After lot of congratulations and exchanging of Tonka photos, I was feeling a lot of love and found it hard to leave.

Eat, Purr, Love features some of the nicest people around- both the staff and patrons. Top it off with cute and cuddly kitties and a great cup of coffee, and you have all the ingredients for a top cat cafe experience.

Click here for more information.

The Neighbor’s Cat is the alter ego of Paula LaBine, an itinerant cat lover who writes about cat cafes, rescue/adoption & TNR, and has been featured in Miau Magazine, Katzenworld Blog, The Catnip Times and Taiwan Scene. She is currently on a quest to visit every cat café in the world- 216 in 29 countries so far!  Find her at theneighborscat.com or on Instagram/ Facebook/Twitter @catcafeviews.

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25 thoughts on “The Cat Cafes of Ohio, USA

  1. CLEvangelism says:

    Note: Cleveland APL has a long history of selling cats for a buck. A BUCK. Less than the price of a Happy Meal. This is problematic for a number of reasons. One, the APL resides in the hood. Cleveland.com has published articles about animals being abused by bored teens and children. Selling animals for $1 gives those bored teens and children a cheap play toy. It also provides our many hospitals and universities with cheap lab animals and dog-fighting rings with cheap bait.
    Two, if people can’t afford the adoption fee for an animal, they aren’t likely to be able to afford good-quality food and vet bills.
    Three, it sends a message that cats aren’t worth much.
    Cleveland APL has even discounted (!) adoption fees on cats during Fourth of July weekend, when many if not most shelters shut down adoptions, knowing the fireworks prompt many pets to run away.
    Unfortunately, many Clevelanders adopt their pet from the APL, so people give it great reviews, not caring what happens to all the other animals.

    • catcafereviews says:

      Thanks for bringing this up! I’m not aware of the history of Cleveland APL- is there another organization locally that you endorse? I will pass this along to the folks at Affogato, thanks!

      • CLEvangelism says:

        I follow Friendship APL in Elyria, which is about 30 miles away, but I don’t know anything about the smaller shelters closer to Cleveland. I appreciate you asking though.
        Let’s just hope the cafe kitties find good, loving homes.

  2. Pingback: “Car Cafes of Ohio”:…a katzenworld reblog | By the Mighty Mumford

  3. Léa says:

    With so many gorgeous celebrities in residence to greet or ignore you, who could resist? Hearts of stone need not apply.

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