Cat Cafes in California

Vista, California

Nestled in Vista, California, Cat & Craft is North County San Diego’s pioneering cat cafe, blending a craft coffee shop with a haven for adoptable rescue cats. The space is thoughtfully divided into two distinct areas: a cozy coffee shop serving expertly brewed espresso drinks with local Manzanita Roasting Co. beans, house-made cold brew, and fresh pastries, and an 800-square-foot, cage-free Cat Lounge where visitors can mingle with up to 25 foster felines for a modest admission fee. Designed with both human and feline comfort in mind, the lounge features separate ventilation to keep allergies at bay and large windows for coffee-sipping spectators to peek in. Partnering with local rescues like LYFF, Cat & Craft facilitates on-the-spot adoptions, having successfully found homes for hundreds of cats since opening in 2019. It’s a purr-fect spot for coffee lovers and cat enthusiasts alike, fostering community, compassion, and connection one sip and snuggle at a time.

Santa Barbara, California

Cat Therapy Cat Cafe, located in Santa Barbara, California, is a cage-free lounge dedicated to fostering adoptable cats rescued from euthanasia by their partner, ASAP Cats. Visitors can interact with 10-15 cats in a modern, open space designed to socialize the cats and boost their adoption chances, with all cats being spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and vet-checked. The cafe offers coffee, tea, wine, and beer, and hosts additional experiences like yoga and movie nights, with an entry fee that supports the cats’ care. Open to those 18+ for adoption (with a $75 fee per cat paid to ASAP) and welcoming all visitors, it also sells cat-themed apparel and products online to fund its mission. More details on bookings, adoptions, and hours are available their website.

Oakland, California

Cat Town, located at 2869 Broadway in Oakland, California, is a pioneering nonprofit that opened the United States’ first cat cafe in 2014, transforming cat rescue by providing a cage-free adoption center for Oakland’s most vulnerable shelter cats. This cozy space, housing 25 to 35 adoptable cats at a time—half roaming freely and others in private studios for specialized care—focuses on finding homes for shy, senior, and under-socialized felines often overlooked at traditional shelters. Visitors can enjoy coffee, tea, and light snacks (or bring their own non-alcoholic treats) while mingling with the cats, with a $12 entry fee supporting the rescue’s mission, though adopters visit free after completing an inquiry form. Rooted in a commitment to reducing euthanasia rates—having cut Oakland Animal Services’ cat euthanasia by over 70% since 2011—Cat Town blends a welcoming cafe vibe with a heartfelt dedication to giving every cat a chance at a loving home.

Los Angeles, California

CatCafe Lounge is a nonprofit cat cafe featuring a spacious, cage-free environment with 20-30 adoptable cats and kittens from local rescue partners. Visitors can enjoy 70-minute sessions in multiple areas, including a main cat lounge, kitten lounge, and outdoor catio, all designed with ample vertical space to keep cats comfortable and socialized. The onsite cafe serves fresh-brewed coffee, tea, and light snacks, with entry fees ranging from $20-$35 supporting the cafe’s mission to reduce euthanasia rates through adoption and socialization efforts. Open to guests aged 7 and up (with adult supervision for ages 7-11), it also offers special events like yoga and sound baths, plus an online store with cat-themed merchandise.

Los Angeles, California

Crumbs & Whiskers is a cat cafe offering a cage-free environment where visitors can interact with adoptable rescue cats and kittens. Partnered with local rescues like Kitten Rescue, it houses cats at risk of euthanasia, providing care until they find homes, with over 2,000 adoptions since opening in 2015. Guests can book 70-minute sessions for $35 (or $25 on weekdays) to enjoy the lounge, which includes multiple cats and a calming atmosphere, with optional coffee, tea, pastries, and sandwiches available for preorder from a local partner cafe. Founded by Kanchan Singh, the cafe supports its mission to reduce shelter euthanasia rates through entry fees, with additional experiences like kitten parties and private events available.

Long Beach, California

Feline Good Social Club is a nonprofit cat lounge offering a 1,800-square-foot, cage-free space where visitors can interact with 25-50 adoptable cats and kittens from their rescue partner, Long Beach Felines. Guests aged 7 and up (with adult supervision for those under 15) can book 50-minute sessions for $19.99 to relax, work, or play with the cats, enjoying free Wi-Fi and ample seating in a bright, colorful setting. The lounge aims to find permanent homes for cats, many rescued from high-risk situations, and supports this mission through admission fees, with additional offerings like private group sessions, yoga, comedy nights, and sound healing events. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are recommended.

San Francisco, California

KitTea Cat Lounge & Cafe is a cat cafe that offers a lounge where visitors can interact with 15-24 adoptable and resident rescue cats from various California shelters. Guests aged 9 and up (with adult supervision for ages 9-12) can book 55-minute sessions to spend time with the cats, with tickets including a complimentary canned beverage, while outside non-alcoholic drinks and snacks are permitted. Founded in 2013 by Courtney Hatt as the nation’s first established cat cafe, it provides a therapeutic environment with a small menu of snacks like popcorn and candy, aiming to facilitate adoptions—hundreds to date—and support cat welfare through entry fees and an online gift shop with cat-themed merchandise. Open daily with varying hours, reservations are recommended due to a 14-guest capacity limit.

San Diego, California

The Cat Café is Southern California’s first cat café and a beloved haven for feline enthusiasts since opening in January 2015. This cozy spot combines award-winning, locally roasted coffee from Café Virtuoso with the company of friendly, adoptable cats from The Rescue House, creating a unique experience where visitors can sip delicious drinks, enjoy pastries from Bread & Cie, and cuddle with potential furry companions. The café features a thoughtfully designed space with a separated cat playpen—complying with U.S. food service regulations—where guests can relax, attend yoga sessions like "Cats on Mats," or simply unwind with the cats. With a mission to find forever homes for its feline residents, The Cat Café offers a welcoming atmosphere for coffee lovers and cat adopters alike, complete with a menu of local treats and a photo-worthy giant cat mural, making it a purr-fect destination in America’s Finest City.

Chino Hills, California

Cat Cafe Rescue in Chino Hills, California, is a dedicated cat rescue center focused on saving the lives of abandoned and homeless felines while finding them loving forever homes. Operating as a sanctuary, it provides personalized, compassionate care to ensure each cat’s health and happiness, with all adoptable cats being fully vetted—neutered, dewormed, and vaccinated. Visitors can enjoy a relaxing environment perfect for solitude or socializing with the cats, whether cuddling up with a book and coffee or simply unwinding alongside these furry companions. The center also offers kitten and feline adoption services, welcoming potential adopters to explore the process and meet cats ready to become part of a family. With a mission rooted in rescue and rehabilitation, Cat Cafe Rescue stands as a haven where cats thrive until they find their perfect match.

Chico, California

Chico Cat Café, located at 1725 Esplanade in Chico, California, is a 1910s-1920s French-inspired haven that opened in 2022 as the city’s first cat café, evolving from its original name, The Great Catsby, to better reflect its community roots. This unique spot serves as a temporary foster home for rescue cats and kittens, partnering with local organizations like Stillwater Cat Haven, ResQpaws, Perfect Paws Animal Advocates, and KAT Charities to save at-risk felines—over 80 in its first year alone—from euthanasia and street life, aiming for one adoption per week. Visitors can enjoy complimentary brewed coffee from a proprietary roaster, prepackaged snacks, and bottled drinks in a separate snack room, while bonding with up to 12-15 adoptable cats in a cage-free main lounge, with additional spaces like the Nine Lives Wine Lounge (21+) and a student co-working lounge offering free Wi-Fi—all designed to revolutionize cat adoptions in a cozy, feline-focused environment.

Camarillo, California

Purrmaid Café and Adoption Center is a feline paradise that opened in 2019 as a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit, offering a refreshing alternative to traditional shelters for homeless cats. This cozy spot features a large, cage-free room where about a dozen resident cats roam freely among toys, scratching posts, and soft beds, with a cat door leading to private quarters for when they need a break—visitors can enjoy this feline company for just $6 per half hour, sipping coffee, tea, or water with a snack while relaxing in a soothing environment. Working with rescues like Hope for Paws and Let Them Be Little, the café ensures all cats are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and FeLV/FIV-negative, aiming to find them loving homes through a thoughtful adoption process, all while fostering a community space open Wednesday through Sunday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm where the motto “Goodbye is the goal” reflects their dedication to every cat’s happy ending.

Palm Springs, California

Frisky Business Palm Springs Cat Café is Coachella Valley’s first and only cat café, opening its doors in December 2022 after founders Claire Rogers and Sonny Von Cleveland spent 16 months bringing their vision to life. This unique spot blends a mid-century modern cat lounge with a coffee shop, offering visitors a chance to sip gourmet beverages like Lamill Coffee and enjoy homemade baked goods while interacting with adoptable cats from the Palm Springs Animal Shelter in a cage-free, stress-free environment. With a mission to find forever homes for every feline resident—boasting six adoptions within its first 10 days—the café fosters community through events like movie nights and book clubs, all while championing inclusivity as a certified neurodiverse workplace and an EmployABILITY Champion recognized by Congressional and California Legislative awards.