I was definitely sceptical when the Kitty Café opened in Nottingham; I’d heard of the fun concept of a café full of cats but wasn’t sure how this could be realised in a hygienic way! I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this café, and have had repeated visits.
With the dual purpose of café and cat rehoming centre, this café attracts cat-lovers from far and wide. If you’re curious, take a walk past the window for a great view of the cats (if they’re feeling sociable). Booking is a must, as the Kitty Café rarely has a quiet day. You book for one hour, but if you’re lucky enough to find it quiet, you might be allowed to stay a little longer.
When you enter the café, friendly staff greet you and provide you with ‘House Rules’, to read about how to treat the cats in the café. There is a ‘welfare charge’ of just £5 per adult, and £3 for children, which contributes towards the care of the cats. You are then guided to your table, where there is a great menu of food and drink, and are allowed to roam around the café and meet the cats.
The café offers plenty of exotic teas, as well as other drinks, plenty of cakes, and even has a lunch menu. Personally, I don’t feel that there is enough time to enjoy a whole meal if you are busy petting cats, but perhaps regulars might be less desperate to meet every single cat, and more freed up for food. There is a lovely relaxed, and somewhat therapeutic atmosphere here, but it can be tricky to have a proper catch-up with friends when surrounded by cute cats!
For hygiene purposes, cake covers are provided for all food and drink, and tables are disinfected each time customers leave. The staff are chatty, and very knowledgeable about all of the cats, with the busy job of keeping cats off of tables, as well as waiting on customers! The kitchen is kept cat-free through the use of a double-door serving hatch, which keeps cats out in the same way that the double-door entrance keeps them safely inside.
It wouldn’t be a good review if I didn’t mention the cats… and they’re gorgeous! So many breeds and personalities, you’ll soon pick a favourite. Sometimes you might be lucky enough to see kittens too, or cats being adventurous on their climbing jungle. The whole café is really thoughtfully decorated, with both cats and humans in mind, providing fun apparatus for the cats, and quirky furniture for humans. The cats are all very good with people, and are usually happy to play with the toys provided, but have a place to escape to if they get annoyed with all of the visitors. The Kitty Café’s Facebook page Is a good way to keep updated with your favourite cats and any mischief they get up to!
If you’re a cat-lover, don’t hesitate to book a visit here!
Best: cats everywhere!
Worst: bookings are usually kept to one hour.
Website: https://kittycafe.co.uk/
Photograph: Kelly Innes, Instagram @kelinnes