Clintonville is now home to the Ohio’s first Cat Café. Eat, Purr, Love opened its doors to the public at the end of September. With the tagline, “Connecting Homeless Cats With Happy People,” the café offers a unique experience to both cats and cat-lovers.
Despite never having visited a Cat Café before, Owner Chrissy Kuras had a strong desire to bring this concept to the Midwest. The trend, which started in Asia, has begun to spread throughout other continents but hasn’t quite reached Ohio. Kuras jumped right into the business, hoping fellow feline-lovers would follow. Kuras has been a long-time volunteer at several cat rescues around Central Ohio, and she said that she is excited to share her passion with guests in her café.
The space is divided into two sections: the café and the cat area. Situated in the front of the building, and separated from the cats by a set of doors, the café offers local fresh brewed coffee and baked goods from Pattycake Bakery, which can be enjoyed in the café or taken into the cat lounge area. Kuras also encourages guests to “BYOB” – Bring Your Own Brew – as well as food to be enjoyed in the lounge. Guests can pay $10 to spend an hour playing with the furry friends who are housed in the second part of the building. The space allows for 10-12 cats, all relocated to Eat, Purr, Love from the Capital Area Humane Society. The Humane Society brings cats to the café that they have observed to have good temperament and behavior and believe they would thrive in this unique setting. The café is designed with adoption in mind. The space allows guests to get to know the cats and see their personalities in a relaxed atmosphere before adopting them.
The cats have free reign over their space. The front part of the area is designed for playing with the cats – floor pillows, toys, scratching posts, and open space – allows the guests to playfully interact with the cats. The middle part of the space houses tables, with coloring supplies, and open space to host events such as yoga and painting. The back part of the space is designed to look like a living room. Couches, chairs, and coffee tables are anchored around an entertainment center that houses a television, books, and various cat décor items. The best part about this area is all the hiding spots for the cats. Baskets and coffee tables double as hidden cat beds, and guests are continually surprised by the cats popping out of nowhere to greet them. The cats also have a refuge space in the basement in case they need a break from the guests.
For the month of October, the café is open seven days a week in honor of its grand opening. Normal business hours will resume in November with the café being closed to the public on Mondays for special groups that Kuras believes will benefit from quality time with the cats. During business hours, walk-ins are welcome but guests are encouraged to make a reservation as space is limited to 15 cat-lovers at a time to ensure the cats do not get overwhelmed. Kuras offers discounts for guests who walk or ride a bus to the café, as well as military members, students, and senior citizens. Special group pricing is offered on a case-by-case basis.
For more information, visit www.eatpurrlovecatcafe.com.
