The Cat Cafes of Chicago

I’ve recently moved to the Chicago area, and while I’m still trying to decide if it’s the place for me long term, one thing is certain: Chicago’s cat cafes are a delight.

They differ greatly in composition and vibe, but are united by an abundance of love and compassion for the world’s forgotten felines. Windy Kitty is leading a non-profit called the Orphan Kitten Project, with an ambitious goal to ‘save them all’ from euthanasia. The Catcade has built a hugely successful following by serving up cheeky Instagram posts with a side of serious talk about rescue and adoption. Finally, Treehouse Cat Cafe has elevated the whole shelter/cat cafe hybrid to a new standard.

All of them are making a world of difference in advancing animal welfare and I heartily recommend visiting them when in the Windy City.

Treehouse Cat Cafe

The latest cat cafe on the Chicago scene, Treehouse is poised to transform the idea of the shelter/adoption experience.

One of the most common things I hear from people when I talk about cat rescue and adoption is how they can’t visit a shelter because it’s so sad and they would want to take all the kitties home.

On one hand, I get it. On the surface, an animal shelter seems like it would be a sad and desperate place. However, I always tell people that A) not every cat wants to live with you, and B) today’s shelter environment might surprise you.

Case in point: Treehouse Humane Society and Treehouse Cat Cafe.

Located in the Rogers Park neighborhood in Chicago, Treehouse Humane Society opened the doors to it’s state-of-the-art shelter and cat cafe in 2017. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I walked inside. The shelter section is modern, immaculate and spacious, but also incredibly cozy and cheerful with large, sunny windows and accents of color. They have done a magnificent job creating a welcoming environment for the community to come together and advance animal welfare.

The cat cafe is fairly small, but since they limit on the number of people, ours was a very relaxing experience. There were four cats in residence the day we visited: Minnie, a sweet and playful tabby, Felicia, a silky tuxedo girl, Dakota, another tabby with expressive eyes, and Dr. Jones, a cat described by the cat board in coffee terms: ‘black, robust and spicy’.

Inside the cat room, we sipped our delicious coffee, procured from the adjacent cafe space. One of the volunteers, the kind and lovely Ashley shared her experiences working with the cats and her own rescue at home- a hulking 16 pound Russian Blue rescue named Puck.

I’ve said it before, but it’s worth mentioning again. The kitty love is the best part of these visits, but meeting cat loving kindred spirits from around the world is a close second.

If you have avoided visiting a shelter for fear it would be depressing, I encourage you to pop on over to Treehouse Cat Cafe. This hybrid shelter and coffee shop proves that such an experience can actually be a darn good time.

The Windy Kitty

There are dedicated cat lovers and then there is Jenny.

She was ill the day we met, recovering from pneumonia and yet there she was, because the cats needed her.

The kitten nursery was open and a batch of babies had just arrived. There were vet runs to be made, and supplies that needed to be collected. Through it all, she had a smile on her face.

Jenny has been a lifelong animal lover and rescue advocate. Before opening The Windy Kitty, she was serving as a cat foster mama and kitten bottle feeder. After a fateful visit to Edinburgh and Maison de Moggy, she was determined to make her cat cafe vision come to life as an inclusive and relaxing place for cats on a quest to find a forever home.

Open only nine months when I visited, 59 adoptions had already taken place. It seems her vision is, indeed, a reality.

With the Chicago city flag as it’s logo and design inspiration, the space is cozy and welcoming. No foodservice was available the day of my visit, due to some confusion around zoning, but this has since changed.

On the cat side of things, there were 17 adults in residence the day of my visit. So many cuties to fill guests with delight like gentle calico Daffodil and former TNR ginger Chant, but my favorite was Taft, a young playful tabby with eyes that made me fall head-over-heels in love.

But the kitten nursery is what sets The Windy Kitty apart. While it all sounds like a nonstop squee-fest, caring for abandoned newborn kittens is difficult, and often heartbreaking, work.

Despite the challenges, Jenny remains passionately committed to cat advocacy, stating that it’s ‘in her DNA’. She knows this is her path and has embraced it wholeheartedly. Her community of supporters are numerous, and I count myself among them. Her generosity and big heart infuse the cafe with a warmth and spirit that is infectious. No pneumonia pun intended!

Jenny and her staff are truly making a difference in the lives of Chicago’s felines. I encourage you to pay a visit to The Windy Kitty and help support her outstanding efforts!

The Catcade

I’m always excited to visit a new cat cafe.

It’s because I never quite know what is going to happen. The experiences range from pleasant and uneventful, to euphoric and life-changing. They are always good, but sometimes I hit the unforgettable jackpot.

My cat travels have put me in the path of some of the most amazing people on the planet. From making friends for life, to gaining an incredible amount of knowledge about cats, rescue, adoption and TNR— the owners and staff of cat cafes are usually kind, often funny and always memorable.

My visit to The Catcade definitely qualifies as special.

I had been looking forward to visiting since the first time I had heard there was an arcade-themed cat cafe in Chicago. Over time, I began following The Catcade on social media and like so many others, found myself cackling out loud reading about the exploits of Chris, Shelly and their feline charges. Chris has an unbelievable talent for storytelling- cheeky with vivid details recalled from his youth, he has a unique voice all his own.

I’ve become a little obsessed.

The day of my visit, I was a tad nervous. It was a below zero late afternoon in December, and while I was in town for work, I decided to blow off some afternoon meetings to pay my respects. I rehearsed my ‘keeping it cool’ greeting while finding a place to park. Finding a spot in the Lake View neighborhood was a bit of a challenge (keep any whining to yourself, FYI), made worse by recent a snowstorm, but my timing was actually perfect- there was no one in the lounge when I walked through the door.

My practice intro thrown out the window, I proceeded to assail Chris with a barrage of verbal diarrhea. It was all good however, as the next hour turned into a delightful combination of Chris’ good natured sarcasm and serious cat talk. He filled me in on how they are their own rescue, working with high-kill shelters in Kentucky and managing their own transport.

Don’t let the insouciance fool you, Chris and Shelly are the real deal- hard-working and passionate in their dedication to save cats from being euthanized. Impressed, and even more in awe, I tried to share meaningful stories from my cat cafe travels, which came off more like a rambling fangirl. Hey, I’m a cat cafe reviewer, but I’m only human!

I was bummed not to meet Shelly since she is the other half of the famed Catcade duo. Kind of like looking forward to a rude waiter in Paris, I yearned to hear Shelly wield some of her signature ‘one-star’* sass.

Finally, I made my way into the cat lounge, where I met several sweeties, such as Simon, a precious Siamese, Penny, a stunning green-eyed tabby and Gretel, a white and tabby that posed perfectly across the Ms. Pacman machine.

After another hour with the kitties, I made my way to the exit, offering apologies for being an excessively talkative lingerer. Chris graciously dismissed my concerns and handed me a LaCroix for the drive back to the western suburbs.

Perhaps you will not have the same experience as I did, but I guarantee your time at The Catcade will be every bit as unforgettable.

*A patron once visited The Catcade and decided to leave a one-star review complaining about Shelly in a super whiny manner. After that, Chris began referring to his partner in posts as ‘One-Star Shelly’. It’s stuck and has since become part of the irreverent allure of The Catcade. You know what they say about lemons and lemonade, right? Add vodka.

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 currently on a quest to visit every cat café in the world- 233 in 29 countries so far! Find her at theneighborscat.com or on Instagram/ Facebook/Twitter @catcafeviews.