I never thought I’d find myself booking an appointment to hang out with cats while drinking coffee, but here we are. The Region Cat Cafe in Griffith combines a coffee shop experience with animal rescue, facilitating the adoption of over 285 cats since opening.
It maintains a 4.9-star rating based on nearly 400 reviews. This spot combines two things that honestly shouldn’t work together but somehow create magic: freshly brewed lattes and adoptable rescue kittens looking for their forever homes.
The 4.9-star rating from nearly 400 reviews tells you everything you need to know about what happens when passionate people create a space that serves both great coffee and an even greater cause.
I’ve visited twice now, and I’m already planning my third trip because there’s something genuinely special about sipping a matcha latte while a kitten named Baby Bolt decides your lap is the perfect napping spot.
A Coffee Shop That Actually Cares About Quality Drinks
Forget everything you think you know about coffee at novelty cafes. The Region Cat Cafe, located on North Broad Street, runs a full-service coffee bar that rivals any standalone shop in the area.
Their baristas craft everything from classic espressos to seasonal specialties like nutty pumpkin lattes that customers rave about in reviews.
The matcha oat latte comes highly recommended by vegan visitors who appreciate having quality plant-based options. If you’re more of a tea person, their chai gets consistent praise for being perfectly spiced without that artificial sweetness some places rely on.
They also offer craft sodas and frozen hot chocolate for those who want something different.
What surprised me most was learning that guests regularly mention the drinks first, even before talking about the cats. That tells you the cafe side isn’t just an afterthought.
The staff takes time to help you choose the perfect beverage, and they’re happy to adjust sweetness levels if you prefer a less sugary version of any drink.
You can enjoy your coffee upstairs in the lounge area that overlooks the cat room through windows, creating this cozy experience where you’re sipping quality caffeine while watching kittens play below. The combination feels intentional and well thought out rather than gimmicky.
Twenty Plus Rescue Cats All Looking For Forever Homes
Walking into the cat room feels like stepping into the world’s best animal shelter, except it doesn’t feel like a shelter at all. More than twenty cats and kittens call this space home at any given time, each one available for adoption through their partnership with local rescue organizations.
The faces change regularly as cats find their forever families, which means every visit introduces you to different personalities.
One reviewer fell in love with Baby Bolt during a birthday visit, describing the kitten as cuddly and sweet. Another guest mentioned how the variety of cats means you’re seeing animals that already know how to socialize with other felines, which makes introducing a new cat to your existing pets much smoother than typical adoptions.
The cats wear collars for identification, something one visitor specifically praised after struggling to get their own cat comfortable with collar-wearing at home. Every animal in the room has been vetted, socialized, and cared for by staff who genuinely know each cat’s habits and personality quirks inside and out.
You’re never pressured to adopt, which several reviews emphasize with relief. The focus stays on giving these animals exposure and socialization while they wait for the right family, and that patient approach has resulted in hundreds of successful adoptions since opening.
Staff Who Know Every Cat By Name And Personality
The caretakers at The Region Cat Cafe don’t just work here. They know these animals like family members, and it shows in every interaction.
Multiple reviews mention how the staff member in the cat room can tell you exactly which cats love belly rubs, which ones prefer chasing toys, and which personalities might click with your lifestyle if you’re considering adoption.
Jewel gets mentioned by name in reviews for greeting everyone with a smile that brightens the whole experience. Linda, one of the owners, makes visitors feel at home with her genuine warmth and obvious passion for the mission.
You can tell the difference between employees going through motions and people who built this place because they care deeply about animal welfare.
During your fifty-minute cat room session, a staff member stays with your group the entire time. They guide you on the best ways to interact with different cats, help shy kittens warm up to visitors, and answer endless questions about adoption processes, cat behaviors, and individual animal backgrounds.
This hands-on approach means you’re not just wandering around hoping a cat notices you.
The knowledge and dedication create an environment where guests feel supported rather than left to figure things out alone, which matters especially for families introducing young children to proper cat handling.
An Upstairs Lounge That Overlooks The Entire Cat Room
Most cat cafes give you one experience, but The Region Cat Cafe designed something smarter. The upstairs lounge offers a completely different vibe where you can relax with your coffee while watching the cats through floor-to-ceiling windows that look down into their space.
It’s like having a birds-eye view of a nature documentary, except the stars are adoptable kittens wrestling over toy mice.
The lounge comes stocked with board games and cat-themed books, making it perfect for groups who want to hang out beyond their scheduled cat room time. Parents appreciate having this space when traveling with children under seven, who aren’t allowed in the cat room itself due to safety policies.
Dad can grab coffee upstairs with the younger kids while mom spends time with the animals and the older children.
Reviewers describe the upstairs area as cozy and welcoming, decorated with the same attention to detail as the rest of the cafe. The cat-themed sayings on walls and decor on tables walk the line between playful and tasteful without tipping into tacky territory.
Everything feels intentional.
You can spend as much time as you want upstairs without booking a cat room session, which means the cafe functions as a legitimate coffee shop even if you’re not there specifically for feline interaction.
Fresh Food That Goes Beyond Typical Cafe Snacks
Cat cafes aren’t usually known for their food, which makes The Region Cat Cafe’s fresh-made menu even more impressive. They serve actual meals rather than just prepackaged pastries, and the reviews prove people notice the difference.
The chicken salad on croissant gets specific praise for being delicious, while the daily soup rotation includes options like cheesy potato that one visitor described as beyond delicious with compliments to the chef.
The kitchen prepares everything fresh rather than relying on frozen or premade options, which you can taste in every bite. Sandwiches, snacks, and pastries round out the menu, giving you enough variety whether you’re stopping by for a full lunch or just want something small to pair with your latte.
Several reviewers mentioned wanting to try every food item because everything sounds and looks appealing.
Food isn’t allowed in the cat room itself for obvious hygiene reasons, but you can enjoy your meal upstairs in the lounge or in the main cafe area before or after your scheduled cat time. The fifty-minute cat sessions work perfectly for grabbing lunch first, then spending time with the animals, then maybe ordering another coffee to enjoy while decompressing upstairs.
Having quality food options transforms this from a quick cat-petting stop into a legitimate destination where you can easily spend two or three hours.
A Gift Shop Full Of Cat-Themed Treasures And Merchandise
Before you even get to the cats, you’ll walk through a gift shop that could drain your wallet if you’re not careful. The merchandise selection runs deep with cat-themed items that range from practical to purely decorative, all chosen with the same good taste that defines the rest of the space.
Multiple reviews mention the wide variety available, and several visitors admitted buying more than they planned.
You’ll find everything from mugs and home decor to toys and accessories, much of it featuring clever cat sayings and artwork that doesn’t feel cheap or mass-produced. The shop supports the cafe’s mission since purchases help fund the care and housing of the rescue cats, which makes impulse buying feel slightly more justified.
At least that’s what I told myself.
The retail area also stocks items related to cat care for new adopters or existing cat owners looking to spoil their pets at home. Staff can help you choose appropriate toys or products if you’re adopting one of the cafe cats and want to make sure you’re set up for success.
The shopping experience feels curated rather than overwhelming.
Even if you’re not planning to adopt, the gift shop offers a way to support the cause while taking home a reminder of your visit and the cats you met during your session.
An Affordable Experience That Directly Supports Animal Rescue
Fifty minutes with over twenty cats costs just eleven or twelve dollars per person depending on when you visit, which feels almost too affordable for what you’re getting. That fee covers your time in the cat room with staff supervision, and every penny goes directly toward caring for the rescue animals.
You’re essentially paying for an experience while funding a mission, which makes the cost feel meaningful rather than transactional.
Reservations book at the top of each hour with a maximum of ten people per session, keeping the cat room from getting overcrowded or overwhelming for the animals. The time limit sounds restrictive until you’re actually in there and realize fifty minutes gives you plenty of opportunity to interact with multiple cats, take photos, and just soak in the therapeutic benefits of kitten cuddles.
Parents specifically appreciate knowing the age restriction exists for good reason, with children needing to be at least seven years old to enter the cat room. This policy protects both the kids and the cats from potentially stressful or unsafe interactions.
Younger siblings can still enjoy the cafe experience upstairs while older kids get their animal time.
When you consider that traditional entertainment options often cost significantly more for shorter experiences, spending an afternoon here with quality coffee, fresh food, and adoptable cats represents genuine value that also happens to support animal welfare in your community.
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