FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Cat cafés aren't exactly well-known or widespread in the States. Here are some questions we get asked a lot.
What are your hours?
We are open from 10am-7pm Thursday through Sunday. We are closed Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday to let the cats get some much needed rest!
What exactly is a cat café? Where did this idea come from?
It's simple! A cat café is a single location that serves food and beverages and allows patrons to interact with the resident cats. On one side of the business is a coffeeshop, then there is a dividing wall with a viewing window and double door entrance to the cat playroom, which is filled with 20-30 adoptable cats. For a fee, customers can enter the playroom and interact with the cats.
Cat cafés first opened in Taiwan, and then spread to Japan, a country that has become particularly famous for its cat cafés. As Japan urbanized, they increasingly lived in small apartments with pet limitations, but residents still wanted cat love. The solution: cat cafes! In fact, there are over 150 spread throughout the country. Cat cafés can now be found throughout the world, but especially in Asian countries. The Asian model is not adoption-based and often includes expensive designer cats, while the American model is exclusively adoption-based. Nearly every major metropolitan city has one cat cafe, and they are just now opening in college towns.
Why would people want to visit a cat café?
- People like cat cafés for lots of reasons. For one, some people just can't commit to owning a cat due to finances or transience. However, that doesn't mean an individual should be deprived of quality cat time. And what would be worse than someone pretending to be your friend just so they can hang out with your cat? Tell them to come to Papa's!
- Second, some people can't own pets due to landlord, student housing restrictions, or family allergies. Those people want to pet cats, and we have cats who want to be pet. It's win-win!
- Another reason is the opportunity to take your time and meet several cats at once when trying to find a new furry forever-friend.
Do I need a reservation?
The short answer is 'no.' We are usually able accommodate most of our walk-in visitors. However, on especially busy days (weekends) we may not have space for walk-ins when you arrive, as we only allow 15 people in the cat playroom at a time. If you want to guarantee your spot, you should reserve. Also, your reservation comes with a FREE $4 DRINK and gives you the opportunity to complete the digital entry waiver before visiting the cafe. This will speed your visit along and get you to the cats faster!
Why do you let people adopt your cats?
Part of the American cat café model is to allow cats to meet and interact with humans in a more casual environment. A cat cannot really show off its personality in a room full of cages or in a strange environment where everybody is treating it like a flight risk. Cat cafés allow cats to relax and show people their true personalities because it you are visiting on their home-turf with a more natural interaction. We find it makes it easier for folks to find their first forever-friend or meet a cat who is ready to join an already cat-occupied home. For this reason, cat cafes have a high adoption rate and also low return rate because people can ensure the pet is a good fit for their family and home.
Why do you have so many rules? They're just cats!
As it turns out, we're actually on the lenient side when it comes to rules. In fact, in Japan, there are SO many cat cafes that federal guidelines dictate the rules at cat cafes for the safety of the cats. And so, many cat cafes in the U.S. model use some of these same rules. Additionally, many of our rules help ensure the safety of, and provide an overall pleasant experience for, a wide range of customers. Here in the U.S. there is some variation in cat cafe rules. For example, some cat cafes do not permit children visitors at all. So our rules are based on some best-practices from the Japanese paired with rules that will allow for family-friendly visits.
Can I bring my own cat/pet to hang out in the playroom?
No. Please. We have enough cats. And your hamster will NOT have fun.
Do you serve sandwiches?
Seriously. We get this one a lot. We do not serve sandwiches. If you'd like to know what you might find here, please visit our menu.
Rules & Regulations
See our reservations tab for a full listing of our policies.
Want to learn more about our business?
Read / watch these feature stories on us. Click links: KRCG, KOMU, The Missourian, The Columbia Daily Tribune, The Fulton Sun, Feast, and Her Magazine , and a special article on our new initiative to adopt out more FeLV cats!
Melissa Jane Photography