Cat Cafes in Nizhny Novgorod

Nizhny Novgorod

Murrrchim is a cat and dog cafe in the historic centre of Nizhny Novgorod, in the basement at the corner of Ilyinskaya and Malaya Pokrovskaya streets, about a ten-minute walk from Gorkovskaya metro station. It calls itself a kotopesokafe, a cafe for cats and dogs, and is run in the manner of an open shelter: about a hundred cats of many colours and characters live there together with a few elderly dogs. Visitors pay for their time and are offered tea or coffee with biscuits, and board games are available. Staff explain the rules on arrival and talk about the individual animals; sleeping cats are not to be disturbed and cats should not be picked up. Souvenirs with cat motifs are sold at the counter. The cafe is open every day.

Nizhny Novgorod

Murzik is a cat anticafe on Vaneyeva Street in central Nizhny Novgorod, in the basement of number 1A, about 15 minutes on foot from Gorkovskaya metro station. Opened in March 2016, it was the first cat cafe in the city. About twenty cats rescued by a local animal shelter live there, and all of them can be adopted after an application to the shelter. Visitors pay for their time; there is no food menu, but tea, coffee and sweets are included, along with board games, a retro Dendy console, puzzles and a small library. Slippers or disposable socks are provided at the entrance and guests wash their hands before meeting the cats. The cafe hosts acrylic painting workshops on Thursday evenings, sells cat souvenirs and postcards, and can be booked for birthday parties. It is open every day.

• Adoptable cats