Cat Cafes in Antwerp

Mechelen, Antwerp

Cats ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​⁠& Cups is a cat adoption cafe on Désiré Boucherystraat in the centre of Mechelen, and the city's first cat cafe, opened in 2023. All its cats come from Pootjesparadijs, the animal shelter in Zemst, and roam freely through the cafe while they wait for new homes; kittens are often among them. The menu has specialty coffee from the Antwerp roaster Caffènation, other drinks, soup and cakes. It is a walk-in cafe, and reservations are taken only for groups of six or more, visitors with reduced mobility and those coming from far away. Guests disinfect their hands on arrival, let the cats approach them, do not pick them up or wake them, and stay out of the cats' private rooms. Books, colouring pages and games are provided, and workshops are held regularly. Adoptions are arranged by appointment over two meetings.

• Adoptable cats
• Walk-ins welcome

Lier, Antwerp

Lierse ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌⁠Aaikes is a cat cafe on Rechtestraat in the centre of Lier. Visitors pass through a small shop at the front into the cafe, where a group of resident cats lives; shelter kittens also stay for a while until they are adopted, and a board shows which have found homes. A small entry contribution per person goes towards the cats' care, and a card for five visits is available. Tables are booked online in time slots, which keeps the room calm for the cats, and groups of three or more are advised to reserve, especially at weekends. The menu has coffee, other drinks, sandwiches and snacks, and there are board games and books. House rules ask visitors to let the cats come to them, not to pick them up or feed them, and to take photos without flash. Kitty Brunches and craft workshops are held on some days.

• Adoptable cats
• Booking recommended

Antwerp

Catcafé ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌⁠Antwerp is a cat adoption cafe on Sint-Katelijnevest in the centre of Antwerp, just off the Meir shopping street. Opened in December 2023 as the city's first cat cafe, it does not keep permanent resident cats: all the cats come from shelters, stay in the cafe in a home-like setting and can be adopted once they are ready, and more than 130 have found homes this way. Adoption runs through the partner rescue Huppeldepup, which screens applicants before an official introduction, and every cat leaves vaccinated, microchipped, neutered and with a European pet passport. The cafe serves specialty coffee, homemade lemonade, cakes and lunch. There are no time slots or reservations; visitors simply walk in. Small-group workshops such as pottery painting, cat yoga and cat portrait painting are booked separately. It is open every day.

• Adoptable cats
• Walk-ins welcome

Antwerp

Kattencafé ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌⁠Katmosfeer is a cat cafe on Korte Nieuwstraat in the old centre of Antwerp, near the Hendrik Conscienceplein. Opened in June 2024, it is home to a group of permanent resident cats, many of them longhaired and including a retired Bengal stud, who share the cafe with a few shelter cats from Pootjesparadijs waiting for adoption; around 13 cats live there in all. Visitors enter through a locked double-door airlock, disinfect their hands and read the house rules at their table before meeting the cats. There is no entry fee, but each visitor orders at least one drink, or pays a small contribution instead. The menu has coffee, homemade iced tea, aperitifs and cakes. Visitors must be at least 12, the cats may not be picked up or fed, and booking is optional. Creative workshops are also held.

• Adoptable cats