Cat Cafes in Spain

Madrid

La Gatoteca, nestled in the heart of Madrid, Spain, is a pioneering cat café that opened in October 2013 under the nonprofit ABRIGA, inspired by Japanese neko-cafés but reimagined as a solidarity-driven initiative to aid homeless cats. This bright, welcoming space houses around 24 adoptable cats, offering visitors a chance to enjoy their company for €8 per hour (including a complimentary drink), with reservations required due to a limited capacity of 16 people for the cats’ well-being. Since its inception, La Gatoteca has facilitated nearly 900 adoptions, providing a sanctuary where cats recover from past hardships and socialize freely, while humans relax, play, and potentially find a lifelong companion—all supported by visitor fees and donations that fund ABRIGA’s rescue efforts. After closing its original Lavapiés location in 2020 due to COVID-19, it reopened in 2021 at a new site, continuing its decade-long commitment to feline welfare with a focus on quality care and education about cats’ needs.

Barcelona, Catalonia

Espai de Gats, located at Carrer de Terol 29-33 in the Gràcia district of Barcelona, Spain, holds the distinction of being Barcelona’s first cat café, offering a unique blend of relaxation, education, and feline companionship in a vibrant neighborhood known for its bohemian charm. Open Tuesday to Sunday with sessions bookable from 11 AM to 9 PM, this pioneering space charges a modest entry fee (starting at €6 for one hour) to enjoy the company of rescued cats—all sterilized, vaccinated, and adoptable—while sipping coffee or tea from its self-managed cafeteria. Beyond a typical café, Espai de Gats serves as an adoption center and school, partnering with local shelters to give visibility to adult cats often overlooked in refuges, and hosting workshops by feline therapist Rosa Aguilera to deepen visitors’ understanding of cat care and welfare. Just steps from Gràcia’s lively streets, this non-profit sanctuary invites cat lovers to unwind, learn, and potentially adopt, making it a purr-fect retreat with a mission to reduce feline abandonment in Catalonia’s bustling capital.

Barcelona, Catalonia

Gatuari, located at Carrer de Sant Lluís 14, Local 2, in the Gràcia district of Barcelona, Spain, is a pioneering cat café dedicated to the welfare and adoption of "invisible" cats—those often overlooked in shelters due to age, color, or shyness. Open Wednesday to Friday from 5 PM to 9 PM and weekends from 11 AM to 2 PM and 5 PM to 9 PM, this non-profit sanctuary offers a tranquil space where visitors can enjoy organic coffee, tea, or juice (included with a €7-€9 entry fee) while bonding with adoptable felines during 45-minute sessions, all designed to prioritize the cats’ comfort with a limited capacity and advance booking system. Beyond a café, Gatuari serves as a co-living hub for cats from shelters across Spain, providing catsitting services, balcony safety netting, and educational workshops on feline care, all aimed at fostering responsible adoptions and deepening human-cat connections. Nestled in the bohemian Gràcia neighborhood, just a short stroll from Barcelona’s vibrant streets, Gatuari blends relaxation with a heartfelt mission, making it a must-visit for cat lovers seeking to support a transformative cause.

Barcelona, Catalonia

Ninus CatCafè, located at Carrer Nou 27, 08241 Manresa, Spain, is a tranquil and welcoming cat café in the heart of Manresa, dedicated to promoting responsible cat adoptions and animal welfare in collaboration with the local shelter, l’Aixopluc. Open Wednesday to Friday from 9 AM to 1 PM and 4 PM to 8 PM, and weekends from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM and 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM (closed Monday and Tuesday), this cozy retreat offers visitors a chance to enjoy a drink—ranging from coffee to house wine—and a pastry for €6-€7.50 per hour-long session, all while bonding with adult rescue cats awaiting forever homes. Beyond its café experience, Ninus provides educational workshops on feline care, a shop with cat essentials, and a serene environment where cats are free to roam or retreat, ensuring their comfort with strict visitor guidelines like no flash photography or forced interactions. Nestled in the historic center of Manresa, just an hour from Barcelona, this café combines relaxation with a heartfelt mission to give visibility to overlooked felines, making it a purr-fect stop for cat lovers and advocates alike.

Madrid

Polineko Neko Café, located at Calle Mayor 19, Alcalá de Henares, Spain, is a heartwarming cat café and adoption center that offers a serene escape for cat lovers and advocates of animal welfare in the historic city of Alcalá de Henares, just a short train ride from Madrid. Open Tuesday to Thursday from 5 PM to 9 PM and Friday to Sunday from 11 AM to 2 PM and 5 PM to 9 PM, this cozy spot charges a donation fee of €6-€8 (including a drink) for visitors to enjoy organic coffee or tea while interacting with rescued cats from A.P.A Neko Madrid, all of whom are rehabilitated and seeking forever homes. Beyond its café offerings, Polineko provides a library of books and comics, board games, free Wi-Fi, and a shop with cat-themed merchandise, alongside hosting events like yoga with cats and language exchanges, fostering a community space that promotes responsible adoption and cat therapy. Nestled in a UNESCO World Heritage city known for its literary legacy, Polineko blends relaxation with a noble mission, making it a must-visit for those eager to sip, play, and perhaps adopt a feline friend.

Murcia

La Gatera Cat Café, located at Calle Vara de Rey 8, 30001 Murcia, Spain, is Murcia’s first cat café, offering a cozy and unique experience where visitors can enjoy delicious drinks and homemade treats alongside the charming company of adoptable cats. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM and 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM, this welcoming spot stands out with no time limit on visits, allowing guests to relax with the cats—sourced from local shelters—for as long as they like, fostering a stress-free environment prioritized around feline well-being. Situated in the heart of Murcia’s historic center, the café serves a variety of beverages and snacks, with strict house rules ensuring the cats’ comfort, such as no flash photography or forced interactions, making it ideal for cat lovers and families (children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult). With its blend of relaxation, adoption advocacy, and a pet-friendly vibe, La Gatera provides a purr-fect retreat in a city rich with Mediterranean charm.