Cats- love them or not, they’re the heart of the pet picture phenomena on social media. You see enticingly adorable photos of them in houses and shelters, on shelves and kitchen counters, but in a public cafe? Not so much.

  With Purrs and Paws Cat Cafe though, that isn’t the case. Located in Eastview Mall and true to its name, this cafe has a room dedicated entirely to interacting with cats, all while attendees can snack on cookies or sip a soda sold in the adjoined space.  

   I attended the cafe last Wednesday evening, booking a reservation a few days before. As I arrived, I immediately took notice of the cozy atmosphere, both in size and feeling. Only a few chairs sat in the actual cafe portion of the establishment, and there was only one staff member in this area. 

  I found the situation to be quite the opposite of the awkwardness that I had initially expected, however. The member was friendly as she led me towards the cat lounge, and explained to me the two main rules before I could enter: be gentle with the cats, and be careful closing the door so that they don’t decide to go on a sudden shopping spree in Von Maur. 

  To say I was delighted when I entered the lounge would be an accurate description. The room was comfortable and spacious, with another staff member to answer any questions I had about the seventeen creatures we shared the room with. The cats themselves acted amiably and non-aggressive, and they were always open to being pet. 

 However, the best (arguable) part about Purrs and Paws is not the individual time you spend indulging in your feline fix, but rather its goal as a whole. All the cats you meet in the lounge are adoptable, and over one hundred cats have found permanent homes since the cafe’s opening on February thirteenth. They live cage-free and are quickly adjusted to the presence of humans, and come from local shelters and rescues such as Mr. Grey’s Strays, Operation Freedom Ride, and Habitat for Cats.  

 So what makes this cafe just a touch away from being one of the best places to escape from our current reality? To put it simply- the timeframe. I was lucky enough to grab around forty-five minutes in the cat lounge due to low attendance, but sessions last usually around twenty-five. Considering you have to book these in advance, the time you actually spend with the cats feels a bit on the shorter side. This could potentially be another hook of the establishment though, you’ll definitely want to come back after making some new friends your first time!

   Purrs and Paws Cat Cafe was a sweet, albeit short, experience that I would recommend all to try at least once. Attendance at the current moment is only six dollars, so please consider giving it a go for a cheap, easy way to de-stress and distract yourself from the current COVID situation (precautions were taken as I attended), and don’t forget to have fun!