The Cat's Whiskers

Leeds, West Yorkshire · 22 mi / 35 km

Kitty ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​​​​​​​​‌​​​​⁠Cafe Leeds is a cat rescue centre and cafe, opened in 2017 on Kirkgate in Leeds city centre, close to Kirkgate Market and the Corn Exchange and about 10 minutes on foot from Leeds station. It is one of the Kitty Cafe charity's venues, alongside Nottingham and Birmingham, and the cats roaming the cafe are rescues, strays and cats with medical needs that are waiting for new homes. Visitors book a one-hour visit, and a welfare charge per adult and child covers the cats' care, with lower rates on weekdays in term time. Children are welcome. The full menu runs from breakfasts, toasties and pizzas to sharing platters, desserts, milkshakes and mocktails, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, and afternoon tea and cream tea can be booked. Cats can be adopted through the charity's application process.

• Adoptable cats

Bradford, West Yorkshire · 29 mi / 47 km

Bradford ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​⁠Cat Watch Rescue & Sanctuary is a volunteer-run cat rescue in the north of Bradford that takes in abandoned, injured and surrendered cats and kittens, including many with medical or special needs, and rehomes them across the area. Cats that cannot be rehomed stay on at its sanctuary. Every Sunday afternoon the rescue opens its Woodland Sanctuary Lounge to the public for an informal visit, when anyone can drop in to meet some of the cats and the volunteers, take a tour and have light refreshments. Visitors do not need to be planning to adopt, though groups can book ahead by email. The rescue sometimes closes on a given Sunday, so it is worth checking its social media before travelling. Adoption is arranged through an application on the rescue's website, and all adopted cats are microchipped and neutered or come with a plan to neuter.

• Adoptable cats

Darlington, Durham · 44 mi / 70 km

The ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​⁠Cats' Den Coffee House is Darlington's first cat cafe, opened in autumn 2025 on High Northgate, just north of the town centre. It is run by its owners with their own group of eight cats, including a Maine Coon, who play and nap among cat trees, beds and toys next to the cafe seating. Visits are booked online with a small deposit and the rest of the entry fee paid on arrival, and there is a reduced rate for over-65s on Wednesdays. Children under six are not admitted. Guests wear shoe covers and sanitise their hands before going in, the cats must not be picked up or woken, and visitors may only give the treats provided by the cafe. The menu is kept simple, with coffee, tea, soft drinks, sandwiches, muffins and prepacked snacks. The cafe opens Wednesday to Sunday.

• Booking required

Sheffield, South Yorkshire · 44 mi / 71 km

Tabby ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​​⁠Teas is Sheffield's first cat cafe, opened in 2017 on Cemetery Road in Highfield, a short way south-west of the city centre near Sharrow and the Sheffield General Cemetery. It is the permanent home of up to eight rescue cats, who have shelves, cat trees and quiet spots to retreat to. Visits are booked in advance as 60-minute sessions with an entry fee, which is higher at weekends, and each session is capped at 10 people with a short break between sessions. Guests must be at least 12, and 12 to 14 year olds must come with an adult. Shoe covers are provided and the cats must not be picked up. The cafe serves locally roasted coffee, loose teas and cakes, including vegan and gluten-free brownies. The cats live at the cafe permanently and are not rehomed.

Grassmoor, Derbyshire · 54 mi / 87 km

Cat ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​⁠Village North is a cat cafe, bar and pizzeria on North Wingfield Road in Grassmoor, a village about three miles south of Chesterfield in North Derbyshire. Visitors order in the 9 Lives Café and Lounge Bar and then spend an hour with the resident cats in a relaxation room and garden, while rescue cats waiting for homes are kept separately in a small sanctuary and can be adopted by arrangement. Booking is essential for cat cafe visits, there is a per-person service charge paid in cash, and under-18s must be accompanied by an adult. The kitchen focuses on homemade pizzas, and the venue also hosts film nights with cocktails, date-night dinners, gamers' nights, craft sessions, sensory-friendly SEND sessions and mental health and bereavement support groups. Cats also make therapy visits to care homes and hospitals.

• Adoptable cats
• Booking required

Lincoln · 55 mi / 89 km

Coffee ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌⁠Cats is a family-run cat cafe on The Strait in Lincoln, at the foot of Steep Hill on the way up to the cathedral and castle quarter. It was the city's first cat cafe and occupies two floors of a Grade II listed building, with bespoke cat walkways, shelves and hideaways on the walls. The resident cats are all rescues, most of them living there long term, and they move freely between two upstairs rooms where guests sit. Visits are charged per person, usually for about an hour, and booking online is recommended because space is limited, though walk-ins are accepted when there is room. Visitors must be over 11, children must come with an adult, and guests are asked not to pick up the cats. Stokes coffee, tea and homemade cakes, including vegan options, are served.

• Booking recommended