ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Pet, cuddle and hang out with adorable kitties at St. Pete's first cat cafe. Sunshine Kitty Catfe is a place to help cats get adopted as well as a therapeutic oasis for people in the community.
The cafe has teamed up with Friends of Strays to bring this experience to Tampa Bay. Guests can reserve a 50-minute session for $17. During that time, you can hang out in the cat lounge, pet some kitties, feed them treats, read a book or even take a nap! Just sit back and watch the cats come to you.
"This is their home until they get adopted, and they are never caged or crated," said owner and CE-Meow, Amanda Jones. "This is their house—they definitely rule this place."
There are plenty of toys for you and the cats to play with. And if you fall in love during your session and decide you want to take a furry friend home, the adoption process can be taken care of at the cafe. "That's why we exist—we want you to come in and fall in love with someone, although it's not required," said Jones. To learn more about adopting a cat at Sunshine Kitty Catfe, click here.
Some rules to know before you go:
- Appointments are reservation-only: walk-ins are not accepted a this time
- Outside cats are not allowed in the cafe. There are plenty of kitties there for you to play with!
- Bring or wear socks: shoes are not permitted in the cat lounge for hygiene reasons
The cafe offers canned and bottled beverages plus drip coffee, hot tea and hot chocolate that can be enjoyed in the lounge.
And if you're looking for a co-working space with some added cuteness, you can rent one of three office spaces above the lounge, were cats can roam freely in and out of your room.
"We have a dedicated, secure Wi-Fi, the offices are cozy and comfy. The only challenge is will you actually get some work done, because the kitties can be quite demanding with their pets and attention," said Jones.
Find more information on lounge and office space bookings here.
Sunshine Kitty Catfe is open Thursday-Sunday and is located at 1669 1st Ave South in Downtown St. Pete. (Don't worry, they have a designated parking lot!) To learn more about the cafe and how to visit, click here.
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