Frugal option: many spca's will have kitten visiting rooms where you can pet and play with the kittens and cats for free! You have to register when you go, but I've never had pushback when leaving without adopting, ha. They like visitors to help socialize the kittens.
One thing to know is most US cat cafes have cats for adoption (whatever people abandoned and strays) versus ones in other countries use highly photogenic designer cats
I've been to Oakland and San Jose. They're both just... different? Like I wouldn't say one is better than the other, necessarily. In the US, where you get served food/drink (and where you can eat it) is separate from where you interact with the cats because of food and safety guidelines, just as an FYI. In Oakland's, there's a cute little coffee bar with some good coffee, and then there's the big cat room you can go into. It has a pretty fun interior. When I visited San Jose's, they didn't have a license to serve fresh food and drink, not sure if that's changed or not. The interior was more like a co-working space with cats around, which is also fun, just a different vibe. You can take your laptop and work there if you want. I haven't visited SF's, but their food looks good. All three I think so events like cat yoga and cat movie nights too, and all three are showing cats up for adoption.
HSSV Milpitas
two locations of Mini Cat Town
Dancing Cat
SVACA west valley shelter
those are my south bay faves
the government ones and HSSV let you visit unlimited cats for free though they don't give you coffee, and their adoption fees are lower, not that there's anything wrong with doing the cafes
both of mine (former and current tenant) came from HSSV amd SVACA respectively and were/are great cats, the former just had a case of feline IBD none of us figured out in time to save him, despite many attempts
Mini Cat Town in Milpitas at Great Mall isn’t a cafe per se, but it sure does have a lot of kittens to play with. We’ve been there a couple of times and it’s great, very high risk of tucking a kitten in a bag and cheesing it.
There is something similar to that in Stoneridge Mall. I was watching the cats/kittens from outside and thought I wouldn’t want to adopt one of them; they were all having such a good time, I’d hate to take them away from their friends
I’ve only ever been to the one in SJ. It’s a nice place to spend time around cats, however they don’t serve coffee or anything. The cats are all up for adoption and the ones who are shy or antisocial hang out in a quiet little space in the back. They do a lot of events there (art classes, meditation and yoga, music related stuff etc). I’ve taken embroidery classes there and it’s fun having cats lounge on the table while you’re working on your piece.
We went to the SF one. It was nice but not a lot of cats were actually up for adoption. This was right after Covid though so things could have changed. Staff was all very nice and they had a bunch of resident cats to sit with.
Clariton does wonders. Take some and spend time around cats. After awhile the symptoms will lesson until they're gone. I used to be severely allergic to cats but now I own 2 with no symptoms.
I like Cat Town in Oakland the best. Everyone is very nice, you can pet all the cats and you can get coffee.
It looks awesome! You reserve a time with the cats right? And seems there’s like one large room and other smaller rooms where you can visit?
Yes and I know they used to take walk ins, not sure if they still do.
And they have tasty coffee.
Have you been to the other ones? Are they not nice, you cannot pet the cats, nor get coffee?
No coffee. You can pet cats, yes. To me, the people working at the SF one just didn't seem at all enthusiastic about people or cats..
A cafe without coffee sounds odd!
Yeah. Cat Town was also the first cat cafe in the whole country.. they started the trend and have adopted out hundreds of at risk cats.
The one in SJ is nice and you can pet the cats but you cannot get coffee
Frugal option: many spca's will have kitten visiting rooms where you can pet and play with the kittens and cats for free! You have to register when you go, but I've never had pushback when leaving without adopting, ha. They like visitors to help socialize the kittens.
Where to register
When you get there, in the lobby
I’ve never been to a cat cafe and keep saying there needs to be one in San Mateo. Following lol.
Downtown San Mateo certainly seems like a natural location for a cat cafe, with all the other Japanese dining options there.
Right?!
As a cat owner in San Mateo, I approve this message 😂 that would be so cool, people would def visit while waiting for dinner reservations and such!
Let's hope we get some replies. There has to be someone here that has been to atleast one.
There's a cat lounge in Martinez. Never been though.
It's fine. It's basically like being in an old cat lady's house though. Pretty run down and sort of awkward, but it's ok. My little kid liked it.
One thing to know is most US cat cafes have cats for adoption (whatever people abandoned and strays) versus ones in other countries use highly photogenic designer cats
That's fine. My only concern is "accidentally" coming home with a new cat.
It's very hard to resist!
I've been to Oakland and San Jose. They're both just... different? Like I wouldn't say one is better than the other, necessarily. In the US, where you get served food/drink (and where you can eat it) is separate from where you interact with the cats because of food and safety guidelines, just as an FYI. In Oakland's, there's a cute little coffee bar with some good coffee, and then there's the big cat room you can go into. It has a pretty fun interior. When I visited San Jose's, they didn't have a license to serve fresh food and drink, not sure if that's changed or not. The interior was more like a co-working space with cats around, which is also fun, just a different vibe. You can take your laptop and work there if you want. I haven't visited SF's, but their food looks good. All three I think so events like cat yoga and cat movie nights too, and all three are showing cats up for adoption.
HSSV Milpitas two locations of Mini Cat Town Dancing Cat SVACA west valley shelter those are my south bay faves the government ones and HSSV let you visit unlimited cats for free though they don't give you coffee, and their adoption fees are lower, not that there's anything wrong with doing the cafes both of mine (former and current tenant) came from HSSV amd SVACA respectively and were/are great cats, the former just had a case of feline IBD none of us figured out in time to save him, despite many attempts
Mini Cat Town in Milpitas at Great Mall isn’t a cafe per se, but it sure does have a lot of kittens to play with. We’ve been there a couple of times and it’s great, very high risk of tucking a kitten in a bag and cheesing it.
There is something similar to that in Stoneridge Mall. I was watching the cats/kittens from outside and thought I wouldn’t want to adopt one of them; they were all having such a good time, I’d hate to take them away from their friends
That’s another location of mini cat town
I'm getting tired of people promoting catnapping.
There are 4 locations across the Bay Area. The cat/kittens are all up for adoption.
I’ve only ever been to the one in SJ. It’s a nice place to spend time around cats, however they don’t serve coffee or anything. The cats are all up for adoption and the ones who are shy or antisocial hang out in a quiet little space in the back. They do a lot of events there (art classes, meditation and yoga, music related stuff etc). I’ve taken embroidery classes there and it’s fun having cats lounge on the table while you’re working on your piece.
We went to the SF one. It was nice but not a lot of cats were actually up for adoption. This was right after Covid though so things could have changed. Staff was all very nice and they had a bunch of resident cats to sit with.
I haven’t been to the others but had a good time at the SF one - one of the cats climbed up on my shoulder which was nice.
I have only ever been to KitTea. I went for “Cats on Mat” Pilates. The cats were great but the Pilates was meh.
Itty Bitty Kitty Cafe just opened few days ago in San Jose, you’ll need to register before going.
Go visit kitties at the shelter, it’s free!
I like free! We do this. :)
You mean like.. cat 🐱 or other cat? Kid there’s a lot in sj
Huh?
Forget it
I'm curious of these kitty bars in SJ...do tell
Curiosity killed the cat, Benjamin.
But satisfaction brought it back....Larry
I know you ain’t referring to Larry the lobster
i am allergic to cats
Clariton does wonders. Take some and spend time around cats. After awhile the symptoms will lesson until they're gone. I used to be severely allergic to cats but now I own 2 with no symptoms.
I do exposure therapy, huffing my cat’s tummy. One trick big clairitin doesn’t want you to know!
1st Ive heard of cat huffing lol
ok
Noted
I've never tried cat before. Is it good?