Meaghan
Google
Catfé is a cozy place for people to spend time with well-cared-for, adorable cats. It’s evident that the employees really care for the kitties and look after the space. I have been a proud supporter since around 2019, and despite the passing of years, the café has remained as the lovely place it has been for so long now- I truly hope it has many years ahead of it :)
For visits, reservations are strongly recommended as although they accept walk-ins, once the maximum amount of people have reserved/gone in, you will likely have to come back another day or be moved down an hour- so make sure you reserve online if you can! Once there, an employee (cat whisperer) will give a quick rundown of rules, and then you will be let in the cat area at your designated hour. Outside, you can order drinks, small snacks, or purchase other goodies (stickers, pins, cat toys, etc)- if you order drinks, they’ll be brought to you when you’re in the cat area! Going into the cat space requires a ticket of around $16.75/person (price with tax), but the outside space is free to go into and look around.
Cats here have a whole range of personalities! Depending on when you go, the cats might be a little sleepy, but usually there’s always at least one cat who’s down to hop around and chase toys. The cat space has baskets to put your belongings in, features many cat trees and little hiding spots, and has toys you can use to play with the cats! Some cats can be a little shy, and don’t mind being looked at but may not want a lot of touch- just make sure to heed the employee’s guidance on respecting the animals :) On a wall, information about each cat is featured, with adoption fees if you’re looking to adopt!! There’s also a separated, smaller room for cats who have not adjusted to the main area yet, or simply need a private space- make sure to give some love to those cats too.
When it gets busy, sometimes it can feel a little crowded, and it can be difficult to get some one on one time with a cat- so if you desire a more private experience, the little isolated room is a great option, along with simply booking on non-busy days and hours.
**Do not expect to be able to pick up the cats, or do anything forceful. That type of behaviour is heavily discouraged, so if you bring kids.. just make sure they don’t provoke any scratching or biting! Take it slow with the cats and don’t expect them to be all over you.**
All in all, Catfé, along with their sister branch the Bunny Café, and Catoro (an unassociated but also great cat café in another part of Vancouver), are amazing spots to support, and great for relaxed hangouts/dates!!