Cat Cafes in Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois

The ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​⁠Catcade is a nonprofit cat rescue and lounge on Belmont Avenue in Lakeview, Chicago, a short walk from the Belmont 'L' station. Opened in 2017, it combines a home-like lounge of free-roaming adoptable cats with free-play arcade cabinets, so visitors can play classic video games while cats nap and wander around them. The cats are rescued from life-threatening situations, often from under-resourced shelters, and are rehomed through the Catcade's own adoption process. Visits last just under an hour, include a soft drink, and are best booked online because sessions often sell out. Guests must be 12 or older, with one adult for every two minors, and groups of more than six must book a private hour. In line with Chicago rules for animal cafes, no food is served. The lounge also hosts cat yoga and private parties and sells its own merchandise.

• Adoptable cats
• Booking recommended

Chicago, Illinois

The ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌⁠Tree House Cat Café is part of the Tree House Humane Society shelter on North Western Avenue in West Ridge, on Chicago's Far North Side. The coffee bar is open to walk-ins for drinks and pastries, while the adjoining lounge is reserved for timed visits with the café cats. These are adoptable residents who carry feline leukemia virus (FeLV), and to protect their immune systems only one to four of them are in the lounge at a time, which keeps visits small and quiet. Each reservation covers 30 minutes with the cats and one drink. Groups are limited to four people, children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult, and toddlers enter free. Café cats can be adopted by asking a team member, and the shelter also holds walk-in adoption hours. There is an on-site parking lot.

• Adoptable cats
• Booking required