I lately moved to the Kansas City, Missouri space as I’m placing my travels briefly on pause to rejoin the working world and refill the journey coffers.
While I’ve slowed my tempo on the worldwide cat cafe circuit, I’m making up for it right here within the USA by hitting up as many cafes I can inside driving distance. It’s lucky that Missouri has a number of positive choices, together with one proper right here in KC. And whereas this was initially alleged to be a recap of Missouri cat cafes, I discovered a gem simply throughout the border in Arkansas, so take into account this an added bonus!
I lately moved to Kansas City, but it surely already looks like dwelling due to Whiskers.
We landed right here final summer time after spending two years touring the world. At first, I wasn’t positive how I might really feel about settling down, but it surely seems that my ardour for cat cafes, particularly people who facilitate rescue and adoption has helped me discover my group. A cat cafe household of kinds, and house is wherever the place my fellow cat lovers are.
Audrey and JT, house owners of Whiskers, are two extra additions to my cat cafe household. They are the perfect cat cafe folks, having all three traits wanted for success- nice with cats, wonderful with folks and adept with business- they’re extremely caring and arduous working of us who deserve all of the kudos!
It hasn’t been a simple street. They started with a Kickstarter in July 2016, and whereas funding went properly, discovering a location proved to be most difficult- over 20 completely different areas had been thought-about earlier than locking in our their present Midtown spot.
Safe to say, it was definitely worth the wait. The cat room is absolute perfection- with excessive ceilings, plenty of pure gentle and a considerate, but spare design. Throw in smooth music and even softer fuzzy white rugs, and there’s something so calming about Whiskers that you simply wish to simply hang around for hours. They reap the benefits of the room’s verticality by including plenty of elevated areas for the cats, together with an enormous tree within the middle of the room, based mostly on a Lego mannequin constructed by JT.
Open since November, Whiskers has facilitated 41 adoptions as of March 11, 2019. They are partnered with with world-class shelter group KC Pet Project, a bunch that rigorously screens and selects cats to be featured on the cafe.
The choice and socialization plan at Whiskers is very well carried out. With the assistance of KC Pet venture cat behaviorist, Jennifer, the cafe appears to have the perfect mix of outgoing and introverted cats- so the social ones assist the shy guys with their belief points.
Speaking of kitties, I met most of them that day, however bonded with a number of together with two beautiful black cats- Black Panther and his fluffy tail, and Sheena Boneeta, the sweetest little child with a reputation that all the time makes me smile. I additionally fell in love with Lover Boy, a giant ginger lover and Jester, a good-looking tabby man with stoic gaze softened by essentially the most luxurious fur ever!
My first go to was topped off by an exquisite dialog with Audrey and JT. That connection proved to an ideal basis builder as a result of our second go to, a number of weeks later, included Jennifer from KC Pet Project, and Molly, proprietor of soon-to-be-opened Buckminster’s Cat Cafe in Buffalo, NY. Molly, initially from Kansas City, reached out and requested if I might meet her on the newly opened KC cat cafe for insights she would possibly apply within the opening of Buckminster’s (named after her beloved blue boy).
We sat within the cafe area and sipped freshly roasted artisan brew whereas volleying questions and solutions. It was a lot enjoyable, I didn’t wish to finish. Sitting round with folks as keen about cat cafes, rescue and adoption as I’m stuffed me with delight. I had discovered my folks!
And that’s how Kansas City went from a spot I dwell to a spot that’s dwelling.
Even earlier than I visited, I knew I used to be going to like Papa’s Cat Cafe.
I’ve seen all kinds of ideas throughout my travels on the cat cafe circuit, however Papa’s Ernest Hemingway theme particularly delighted me. The creator (nicknamed Papa) wrote many classics, however his memoir, A Moveable Feast, which recounts his time as a younger journalist in 1920’s Paris, is one in all my favourite books.
More importantly, Hemingway was a cat lover and famously saved polydactyl companions at his dwelling in Key West, Florida. A polydactyl has six or extra toes on every paw (vs 5 within the entrance). Hemingway named his cats after well-known folks, and the keepers of the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum (which I’ve additionally visited) keep on that custom in the present day.
MacKenzie and Ryan Kennedy are the proprietors of Papa’s Cat Cafe within the central Missouri college city of Columbia. Before opening their cat cafe, each had been high-school academics. MacKenzie will proceed to show whereas Ryan manages the cafe.
There had been 17 cats the day of our go to, all supplied by means of a partnership with Boone County Animal Care, the one native rescue group that focuses solely on cats. They are devoted to serving to pets discover loving houses whereas additionally specializing in TNR (entice, spay/neuter and launch) as an effort to cut back the overpopulation of cats and kittens.
After we checked in and ordered our espresso and snacks, we entered the cat room and launched ourselves to Shelby, a former pupil of MacKenzie’s and pleasant cat room attendant. We had such a enjoyable time chatting with Shelby (a self-admitted 4 time ‘foster fail’, which suggests she ended up adopting her fosters!), and we wish to acknowledge her serving to us work together with the assorted kitties and for answering all of our questions.
Frankie, Pedro and Corde are the cafe’s full-time residents, with Pedro being a polydactyl in line with the Hemingway theme. In addition to the residents, there have been 14 adoptable fur infants within the lounge that day, together with mischievous ginger AJ, beautiful tabby Meeka (pictured beneath on the rug in entrance of the hearth) and particular sweetheart Mirage, who’s blind.
The facility is beautiful and well-designed. Clean, vibrant and exquisite, they’ve nailed the Hemingway vibe completely with darkish flooring, contrasting crisp white partitions and accenting tropical pillows plus a palm cat tree.
The kitties and the area aren’t the one issues to like about Papa’s. The espresso is AMAZING, sourced from Fretboard, a neighborhood roaster. Fretboard skilled the workers in correct barista method and it has paid off- patrons generally are available only for the espresso. I additionally ordered Madelienes served with chocolate dipping sauce. Perfection!
Papa’s is actually a kind of particular cat cafes you should go to! With it’s inviting interiors, excellent espresso, fabulous felines and among the nicest darn of us you’ll ever met, a go to to Papa’s, very like a Hemingway novel, is an expertise to be savored and cherished.
A phrase of warning. If we’re buddies or family members, ultimately you’ll be visiting a cat cafe with me.
I lately made the journey over the St. Louis from Kansas City. Fun reality: I used to dwell there and that’s the place I met Becca, at work. Becca and I turned quick buddies over numerous conversations starting from the politics and journey to sushi and occasional. But primarily, our friendship was solid whereas bonding over kitties, specifically her beloved rescue cats Kevin and Prudence.
It had been over two years since I had final seen Becca, however after we settled in KC in July, we made plans to make the 4 hour drive over to St. Louis. On a heat September Saturday, we met for brunch and a go to to Mauhaus afterwards.
After brunch (Blue Duck, it was scrumptious) we made our approach a number of blocks down the street to Mauhaus. It was busy on the cat cafe, with a neighborhood sidewalk sale contributing to the crowds. We had a fast browse of the cat paraphernalia after which checked in on the espresso store/reception space. Becca ordered a latte and I requested a french press, which you’ll be able to take into the cat room.
While ready for our flip to enter kitty heaven, we stood anxiously in entrance of the massive home windows that separate the 2 areas. I preferred what I saw- the cat lounge is cheerful, vibrant and really clear. Tables and chairs are grouped collectively on one aspect, whereas the cat bushes, benches and enormous bay home windows ring the opposite. The shelving above the benches frames the company and creates a enjoyable impact like a life sized shadow field.
I like bringing buddies to cat cafes, however discover the expertise concurrently enjoyable and tense. While I wish to witness their reactions, I’m normally roaming the room taking footage and interviewing so I find yourself abandoning my company utterly. Luckily, Becca is a cat professional and figured the entire thing out with out my ‘assist’.
I chatted with cat attendant Clayton, who gave me the lowdown on Mauhaus. Open two years as of September 2018, they’ve partnered with shelter Stray Haven to search out endlessly houses for St. Louis’ homeless cats and have been very profitable with 149 adoptions up to now (210 as of March, 2019).
The day of our go to, there have been 18 cats within the room, together with two residents, Lorelai and Taylor. I met a number of adoptable cats with memorable names like sassy Lemon Chiffon, candy Mighty Joe Young and good-looking Cortado. Jack, a Kevin lifeless ringer, engaged Becca in a sport of hand biting ‘Chicken’.
The room was buzzy with exercise, punctuated by occasional admonishments of the kids (and myself once I walked away from my espresso!), however general the vibe was pleasant and lighthearted.
Once I had my fill of cats and occasional, Becca and I headed to the Schlafly brewery down the road for a beer and correct catch up that featured, what else, cats.
I by no means get uninterested in visiting superior cat cafes and assembly much more superb cat lovers.
Sometimes, I get sooo overvalued throughout these visits that I begin speaking a mile a minute. Such was the case of our go to to Purr and Suzanne, a volunteer, was the unwitting recipient of my enthusiastic garrulousness. Hopefully, she has forgiven me!
You see, it’s sort of arduous to not be excited when visiting Purr Catfe, because it’s such a cool expertise. A lovely area with a great deal of cuddly cats, Purr additionally occurs to be managed by some spectacular folks.
Purr Catfe was opened in 2016 by Lauren Clingenpeel, a ‘licensed cat woman’ based on her bio. A 501(c)3 non-profit, the cafe moved to their present location one 12 months in the past as of August, 2018. I wasn’t capable of meet Lauren that day, however the volunteers indicated she is actually a compassionate particular person devoted to enhancing the outcomes for cats in NW Arkansas. She additionally has an equally dedicated board of administrators, comprised of a number of native leaders.
The facility is lovely- vibrant, cheerful, spacious and spotlessly clear. Considering there have been 18 cats in residence that day, the extent of cleanliness is superb, a testomony to the devoted and caring workers. I beloved the way it was so neat and tidy, however with loads of toys for the cats to play with, and elevated areas for them to leap, climb and specific their pure habits, together with entry to a contained out of doors ‘catio’. They have carried out an ideal job with the area, demonstrating it was created with cats in thoughts, but in addition to be a nice place for folks, too.
The kitties are sourced from a number of excellent shelters- Fabulous Felines, Fayetteville Animal Shelter and Springdale Animal Services, which has resulted in an astounding 322 adoptions as of late August (389 as of the tip of December). They even have partnered with NWA Community Cat Project, which gives low value spay and neuter companies, coaching and help for colony care givers, in addition to public schooling on TNR and group cats. NW Arkansas has a really well-organized animal welfare community and these heroes deserve heaps of reward!
Despite all of the strides this community has made, they nonetheless have some unimaginable rescue tales, together with two candy kitties that had been liberated from a 5×8 storage facility in dramatic trend. They had been positioned at Purr and shortly adopted into loving houses, so fortunately, this story has a cheerful ending.
It was fairly a squee-fest the day we visited as a result of many of the cats on the cafe had been really kittens! The socialization program at Purr has been extremely profitable and these cute infants had been fairly playful and appeared well-adjusted. I received down on the ground to satisfy lovable ‘buds’ (as Purr refers to them) Jack, Kyle, Toby and Winston, however turned utterly enamored with treasured ginger, Rudy and his expressive eyes.
There had been so many fabulous felines to satisfy and {photograph}, that between that and speaking Suzanne’s ear off (she’s as affected person as a saint!), two hours simply flew by.
Yes, we spent two hours there, and truthfully, might have stayed for much longer if we hadn’t had a 3.5 hour drive again to Kansas City. All of this limitless awesomeness prices simply $8 and you may as well get pleasure from bottomless espresso and tea for a further $2.
I hope that you’ve got a possibility to go to Purr to be able to not solely get some high quality ‘purr remedy’, however assist help the excellent work they’re doing.
The Neighbor’s Cat is the alter ego of Paula LaBine, an itinerant cat lover who writes about cat cafes, rescue/adoption & TNR, and has been featured in Miau Magazine, Katzenworld Blog, The Catnip Times and Taiwan Scene. She is presently on a quest to go to each cat café on the planet, 210 in 29 international locations to this point! Find her at theneighborscat.com or on Instagram/ Facebook/Twitter @catcafeviews.
The Neighbor’s Cat is the alter ego of Paula LaBine, an itinerant cat lover who writes about cat cafes, rescue/adoption & TNR, and has been featured in Miau Magazine, Katzenworld Blog, The Catnip Times and Taiwan Scene. She is presently on a quest to go to each cat café on the planet, 217 in 29 international locations to this point! Find her at theneighborscat.com or on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter @catcafeviews.
